Madelyn Malanoski Decker

She is survived by children Joseph and Carla Decker, Ann and Larry Reagan, Marty and Mikey Costello, grandchildren Maria Decker and Greg Myers, Lawrence Reagan, Kelly and Nick Moore, and Ryan Reagan, sister-in-law JoAnn Harkleroad, and many cousins, nieces and nephews, all well loved. Madelyn was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Leon Joseph Decker, Jr., and their daughter, Mary Decker Costello.

Madelyn met Leon in the Wilkes College marching band, where a well-intentioned self-defense boxing instruction ended in a swift right hook that connected firmly to Leon’s nose. They married on October 3, 1953. Madelyn briefly worked at Dow Chemical in Delaware before leaving to devote the next 20 years to raising their children. Madelyn was an accomplished musician in her own right, but her true saintly disposition came through as she raised three children and supported one husband that all played different instruments, often in the same house and at the same time.

In 1972, Madelyn went back to school to earn her teaching credentials from Towson State University. She served as a public Middle and High School Science teacher in Aberdeen, Maryland. She devoted her spare time to teaching CCD at St. Joan of Arc church and helping with local Girl Scout activities. In the 1980s, she worked as a research chemist for the Ballistic Research Laboratory at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. She authored numerous publications on propellants and energetics, and she received a commendation from the U.S. Army for establishing a modern chemistry laboratory at the BRL. After decades as an educator and researcher, Madelyn retired. After their children assured them no grandchildren were forthcoming, she and Leon moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida. Their first two grandchildren were born in Maryland the next year.

Madelyn’s retirement included countless trips up to Maryland to help raise her grandkids, as well as many trips to Disneyworld to dote on them. She led her local chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). She was a faithful member of the St. Lucie Catholic Church, where she read for the morning mass for many years. She took great joy from the church’s coloring group, where she met many dear friends and shaded many a masterpiece. Madelyn also became a bit of a gamer: starting with Neopets, she enjoyed playing a variety of online puzzle games, often with her grandchildren. She is remembered by all who knew her for her warmth, gentle composure, and infectious laugh.

Funeral services will be at St. Lucie Catholic Church, Port Saint Lucie, FL, Monday November 17, at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Lucie Catholic Church or a charitable organization of your choosing.