Helen Louise Madden

Helen L. Madden died peacefully on March 6, 2024; she was 86 years old. She was the last surviving child of Helen and O.F. Alley Jr., originally from Weymouth, MA. Helen relocated to Cape Cod to be close to her daughter and son in law after a brief bout with COVID in 2022. She resided at Thirwood Independent Living in Yarmouth MA for two years prior to her death. While living on the Cape, Helen enjoyed visits from friends and family, going to the pool every morning for a swim and participating in chair yoga several times a week and recently joined and enjoyed singing with the Thirwood Choir group. She especially loved the huge wood burning fireplace in the “pink” room where she would sit to read her library books.

Prior to moving to Cape Cod, Helen lived with her beloved husband Jack for over 40 years in Southlake, TX. Helen was one of the co-owners of Grandma’s Quilts in Keller, TX and years later Jack and Helen would become business partners as well as lifelong partners in marriage. Helen taught countless people how to sew and create beautiful quilts. All her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have been blanketed in love with one of her beautiful creations. She also taught all her granddaughters how to sew and make quilts of their own.

In addition to her love of sewing and quilting, Helen enjoyed gardening, traveling, bird watching and reading extensively. She traveled to England several times to visit her youngest son and granddaughter, whom she visited Ireland with on one of her trips. She spent many summers traveling to Maine with her beloved youngest sister, researching and discovering their heritage together.

Helen was also a lifelong member the Episcopal Church and active member of St. Laurence Episcopal Church where she cared and loved all the church members’ children in the nursery every Sunday and on special occasions. She was also an active member of the Altar Guild and as such restored and created some of the linens and kneelers for the church. Together she and her husband Jack served as Sponsors for new couples joining the church.

In addition to caring for children in the nursery, she also cared for children in her home into her 80’s and welcomed, loved and cared for dogs while their owners were out of town.

Helen is survived by her three children, daughter Angela Hagerty and husband Fran, son Stephen Madden and wife Barbara, and son Sean Madden and wife Katharine; her grandchildren Colleen Lawson, husband Ian, Megan Markland, husband Matt, Caitlin Hagerty and Luka Madden, Ethan and Noah Madden; Great Grandchildren, Tate, Landry, and Eli Lawson and Harry Markland.

Helen was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Jack Madden, her sisters Marilyn Pinkham, Grace Bowie, Jacquelyn DelGrasso and brother Richard Alley.

Funeral services will be held at St. Lawrence Episcopal in Southlake, TX on May 22 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Lawrence church for their community outreach fund.