Madeleine B. McCardy

Madeleine B. McCardy, born in Los Angeles, California, passed away at the age of 96 in Paso Robles, California, on September 10, 2026.

Madeleine left an incredible legacy: a lifetime of devotion to her children and family; a tireless quest to develop and share her extraordinary vocal talent; and a commitment to her beloved husband, Derk. Throughout the whole of her life, she exhibited courage and resilience, a dedication to serving others, and an unwavering faith in God.

Raised in Pasadena, California, and baptized in Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church, Madeleine attended Saint Andrew’s grammar and high schools where she excelled in academics and sports. She met her first husband, Clyde Olcott, a US Marine, at a parish dance. Married in 1947, they settled in Pasadena. In 1955, they moved to Santa Barbara, where their family grew to seven boys and two girls: Mark, Paul, Clyde, Stephen, John, David, Michael, Marie, and Kathryn.

As a loving mother, Madeleine was nurturing and diligent in teaching the practical arts of living, but above all, she taught and modeled the concepts of virtue, ethics, and duty. It was important to her that her children be honest, show compassion, work hard, take responsibility for their own actions, and remedy mistakes with sincere effort. She became a remarkable homemaker, decorator, planner, and organizer. Despite limited resources, she could make any house a home. More than anything, she wanted her children to be happy and to enjoy their lives.

Madeleine loved music, and in 1957, her love of opera and liturgical music inspired her to begin voice lessons under the tutelage of Vocal Master Dr. Rudolf Szekely. Dr. Szekely, amazed by her natural voice, trained her pro bono over the decades to follow.

Madeleine soloed professionally in Catholic churches and Jewish synagogues, performing at marriages, funerals, Shabbat services, High Holy Days, and community events. She sang for her family, to fundraise for others, and for the pure love of singing. Classical training had not constrained her voice; it had revealed it. She truly had the voice of an angel—effortless and pure.

In Santa Barbara, she sang at “Fiesta” events, Catholic churches, and the B’nai B’rith Synagogue. In the 1970s, she helped organize and promote many interfaith concerts, including a fundraiser for Casa De Vida at the Mission Santa Barbara. The event featured Cantor-Soloist Robert Walton alongside other featured vocalists—including Madeleine herself—drawn from local music groups, the Music Academy of the West, B’nai B’rith, and area churches.

As a single mom, Madeleine accomplished all of this while working and raising her children. She began working hourly in retail, quickly advanced to manager, and eventually ascended to national roles for two major retail brands. This success required her to leave her beloved Santa Barbara for Los Angeles in 1975.

In Los Angeles, amidst her work and role as a mother, she found time for her sacred avocation, performing weekly as a soloist at Catholic churches and synagogues, including the Sephardic Temple Tifereth. She also sang for the vibrant, diverse congregations of the Atherton Calvary Baptist Church and the Los Angeles Southern Baptist Church.

In 1979, she married Derk McCardy and joined his family of four girls and one boy: Ann, Martha, Maureen, Elizabeth, and Derk, Jr. This was a great romance. Derk was an accomplished man, a true gentleman, a loving father to his children, and a nurturing role model to Madeleine’s. He was also a lover of the arts, and with his support and guidance, Madeleine continued to sing and organize concerts and community events—first in Los Angeles, later in Lake Almanor, and finally on the Central Coast when they settled there.

After her beloved Derk passed away, Madeleine remained very involved in the Central Coast music community, hosting weekly practice sessions for the St. Rose Parish Choir members, organizing concerts at the San Miguel Mission, and volunteering for the San Luis Obispo Symphony Guild. She also taught private voice lessons, training students in the classic tradition of Franz Liszt, as did her former voice teacher and life-long friend, Dr. Szekely. It was also during these years that her endearing and loyal cat, Louis, came into her life. Louis gave her companionship and unconditional love; he would sit on the piano bench next to Madeleine while she played and sang.

When Madeleine became unable to live on her own, her daughter Kathryn directed and supported her care. Her final years were filled with visits from friends and family, stories, and conversations about her children, twenty grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. Throughout the long days and nights, and despite any discomfort or pain, Madeleine continued to laugh, smile, and express her gratitude to God for the many blessings of her life. Her last request, a message to everyone, was “Thanks for the Memories.”

She passed away peacefully, surrounded by the prayers of her family across miles and generations, with her son Stephen and beloved caregiver Marilyn by her side.

Madeleine is survived by her 7 children, Mark, Stephen, John, David, Michael, Marie and Kathryn, 4 stepchildren, Ann, Maureen, Elizabeth, and Derk McCardy Jr., 13 grandchildren, Sean, Rose, Suzi, Courtney, Wyatt, Celeste, Christopher, Kelly, Tatum, Parker, Will, Evan, and Kori, 7 step-grandchildren, Catherine, David, Kelly, Henry, Andrew, Penn, and Micah, and 16 great-grandchildren, Noah, Max, Alacoy, Angelo, Leila, Sophia, Benjamin, Sadie, Ethan, Emmy, Coraline, Clementine, Haylee, Waylon, Leona, and Branko. She was preceded in death by sons, Paul and Clyde, stepdaughter, Martha, and step-grandsons Max and Yuri.

A Memorial Mass and Celebration of Her Life will be held privately in Santa Barbara, California, on October 30, 2026.

To honor Madeleine’s memory and her love of music, donations may be made to Pneuma Melodies (https://ecologistics.org/pneuma-melodies/), a project led by Certified Music Practitioner and End-of-Life Doula, Brynn Albanese, to continue providing therapeutic music and compassionate transition care to patients in need.