Mrs. Madeleine Elizabeth Duquemin

Born in Croydon, Surrey, England on November 6, 1931 she lived a good long life and died on May 27, 2026 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in her 95th year. Madeleine was predeceased by her infant daughter Mary in 1962 and her beloved husband of 54 years, Colin in 2012. Madeleine leaves behind her son, Ian and her daughter, Fiona Korolenchuk (Mike) and her grandchildren, Mark (Caroline) Korolenchuk and Jessica Elsing (Jake). She was also blessed to be a Great Nanny to Palmer & Olsyn Korolenchuk and Callen and Tatum Elsing. Madeleine was the youngest of five siblings, and was predeceased by her sister Florence Mary and brothers Raymond, Francis and John. Madeleine’s legacy also includes being an aunt to three nieces and two nephews in England and Guernsey, Channel Islands and a niece and nephew abroad and several great nieces and nephews.

Madeleine was raised and educated in Croydon, Surrey – General Nursing and Midwifery at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Headington, Oxford and graduated with an Orthopaedic Nursing Certificate. In 1957 Madeleine was seconded to Columbo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to train local nurses in Orthopaedic Nursing under the Columbo Plan. It was there that she met her husband, Colin Duquemin, a Tea Taster and Tea Buyer for Messrs. Harrison & Crossfield. Colin was from the Island of Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. They married in London, England in 1958 and immigrated to Canada in April of 1959. They first lived in London, Ontario, where Madeleine worked as a nurse at the London Victoria Hospital and Colin pursued his studies in Education. They eventually settled in the Niagara Peninsula in 1960 and lived in Port Colborne for 8 years. They returned to Guernsey, C.I., in 1967, with their two children in tow while Colin pursued his studies in Education. They moved back to Canada to St. Catharines in 1970 and quickly became involved in local historical events. Colin taught school and Madeleine nursed in both full time and part time positions until she retired from nursing in 1977. She then pursued her life long passion for needlework and improved her skills over the following years, eventually becoming a freelance artist specializing in the design and creation of vestments and antependia for church use and ceremonial flags and armorials for military use. Her extraordinary work can be found in Westminster Abbey (UK), Ridley College Chapel and many churches throughout the Niagara Region. Her work can also be found in the Officer’s Mess of the St. Catharines Armoury, the St. Catharines Museum and Masonic Lodge No. 2 in Niagara On The Lake, Ontario. In 1986 she graduated along with her son, Ian, from Brock University with a B.A. with Distinction and then went on to earn a B.A. with Honours in History and the Visual Arts in 1991 thus fulfilling a personal vow she had made when she was 16 that she would never fail another history examination or any other examination for that matter. Madeleine was an extremely talented woman who was also involved in local quilting chapters. She made amazing quilts, placemats and table runners that continue to adorn the homes of her children and grandchildren.

As per Madeleine’s wishes a cremation has taken place and she will be interred with her beloved husband, Colin, who has been patiently waiting for her, in a private family ceremony. In accordance with her wishes, she would appreciate donations to the NeoNatal Unit of the St. Catharines General Hospital, Marrotta Family Hospital, Niagara Health System in her memory.