Madeleine A Thornton

Madeleine, only child of Samuel Walker Thornton and Madeleine Thornton, was born in Brooklyn, NY on November 30, 1923. The family moved to and resided in Pennington, NJ for several years.

Madeleine entered Mt. Saint Mary Convent in Plainville, NJ (Sisters of Mercy in the Catholic Diocese of Trenton, NJ) in 1945 and was a member of that order for 25 years. She received her B.A. degree in English at Georgian Court College in Lakewood, NJ and her M.A. degree in English at Villanova University in Radnor Township, PA. Madeleine did advanced studies in Administration at Catholic University in Washington D.C. As a Sister of Mercy, Madeleine’s assignments included the following schools: St. Mary’s in South Amboy, NJ, Holy Spirit in Atlantic City, NJ, Notre Dame in Trenton, NJ, and Sts. Phillip and James in Phillipsburg, NJ. She left the order in 1970 to care for her ill parents in Ormond Beach, FL

As an English teacher in Volusia County Schools for 12 years, Madeleine taught at DeLand High School from 1972 to 1975. She was English Department Chair at Mainland Senior High School from 1975 until her retirement in 1984.

Madeleine was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Madeleine Thornton. She is loved and remembered by many friends and neighbors.

She is survived by and will be profoundly missed by her companion of 45 years, Dolores Chevalier, and members of the Chevalier family, who loved her dearly.

Volusia Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted with final arrangements for Madeleine. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Port Orange, where Madeleine was a member. The Celebrant will be Father Raymond O’Leary.