Dr. Carmen A. Companioni-Madrigal PhD

Dr. Carmen Alicia Companioni-Madrigal Ph. D. of Holly Springs, NC and North Bergen, NJ passed away on May 1, 2025 at the age of 93. Carmen was born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba on April 17, 1932. Growing up in Cuba, she faced challenges with grace and tenacity and never let anything stand in the way of her dreams. She was the 8th of 12 children. Carmen was a trailblazer who was educated in Cuba’s Public School system and graduated from High School with a concentration in Science at the age of 16. She pursued and received her Doctorate of Physics and Mathematics from the University of Havana as Valedictorian of her class being the only woman- a monumental achievement, especially for a woman in her time and place. She was a woman who could, and did, and continued to be strong, resilient and independent throughout her life, a quality she instilled on all her family members.

Carmen immigrated to the United States in 1974 and settled in North Bergen, New Jersey. A devoted Catholic, she served as a Lector, Altar Server Director, CCD teacher, and Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph and Michael Parish in Union City, New Jersey, for over 40 years. Carmen dedicated her life to her family and shared her passion for mathematics by tutoring children and adults. In her free time, she enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, puzzles in general, and challenging calculus problems.

Carmen is survived by her husband of 63 years, Romulo Raul Madrigal, her daughter Carmen Madrigal-Jackson, her son Raul A. Madrigal, her grandchildren Jacqueline Maria Cala, Julien Wynn and Gabrielle Alicia Jackson, her Godson (and Son-in-Law), Michael W. Jackson, Grandson-in-Law Mario A. Cala, Great-granddaughters Emma and Addison Cala, and a list of lifelong friends too numerous to mention.

A Celebration of Life and Viewing will be held Thursday, May 8th, 2025 at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams St. Apex, NC 27502 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM.

A Funeral Mass and Final Blessing will be held (Tentative) Saturday, May 17th, 2025 at St Joseph & Michael’s Church, 1314 Central Ave, Union City, NJ 07087 at 11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the empowerment of Women in Math and Science to Association for Women in Science (AWS) at https://awis.org/why-donate/ ,1629 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 827-9798, Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 23-7221574

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all of you for your prayers, presence, love, telephone calls, flowers, meals, posts, and all other expressions of love that you have shown during this difficult time.