Madeleine Alice Labonte

Madeleine was born in Malden, Massachusetts to Edith "Letty" Munsey, a Ziegfeld Follies girl and Albert Carl Rappe (Born Reppucci), a professional violinist. She followed in her parents' footsteps singing chorus in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Carol Channing (1950), as a lounge singer/pianist in a night club, and as alto in several choirs, most notably with the Fort Myer Choir in Arlington, VA for over 30 years. She also did a stint as a magazine model.

She was raised by her beloved father until she was 14 when he suffered a fatal heart attack while waving to a friend on the street. He was 37 years old. For the next two years she lived with her grandmother until striking out on her own. Her show business mother visited her once or twice a year after her birth, usually when a show she was touring with came to town. Madeleine loved the backstage life and agreed to her mother's request that she pass herself off as her "sister".

in 1950, while performing in a club she met the love her life, Philibert LaBonte, a string bass player who was in town performing with a band. Smitten, Phil wined and dined her at the poshest of establishments until one night had to admit he had spent his life's savings on her in their first week together. Five weeks later they were married. Phil was inducted as a musician to the Navy and later the Air Force. His work took him and his family around the world from Greece to Germany, and everywhere in between, where they raised their three boys-- Phillip, Mark, and David. Tragically Phillip Albert LaBonte, died in a motorcycle accident in 1977 at the age of 25. Her husband, Philibert "Phil" Adrien LaBonte, died in 2008.

Always the fashion plate, Madeleine danced her way through life complete with high heels, makeup expertly applied, hair perfectly coiffed, and dressed to impress. She was gregarious, and curious about everyone, even meeting future friends in the checkout lane while shopping. She thrived on being a sounding board for people's problems and spoke on the phone with them for hours each night. She loved to belt out the blues and jazz in her car to recordings of Sinatra and Mel Torme while effortlessly harmonizing with them. Blessed with perfect pitch and a photographic memory she rarely had to study, which freed her to spend time with a close knit group of girlfriends while in school. It wasn't unusual for them to skip classes and travel to Boston to hear their idol, Frank Sinatra, in concert. The eternal optimist, she often said "Every day I wake up knowing it's going to be a great day!"

She is survived by her two living sons - Mark Steven (Karen) of Ocean View, Delaware, David Brian (Debra) of Cape Charles, VA and grandsons Christopher and Matthew and granddaughter, Maria Janelle LaBonte. She will be missed by many.

A funeral service will be held at Fort Myer, Virginia on July 9 at 3 PM. She is to be buried with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.