Madeline C. McElroy Obituary (1917 - 2019)

Madeline C. McElroy, 102, of Bloomington, passed away on November 9, at Martin Health Center. Her funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 5, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with visitation from 10:00-11:00 at the church. Interment will be at Mountain View Memorial Gardens, Mesa, Arizona, at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to OSF Hospice Eastern Region or Westminster Village Foundation. Madeline was born April 25, 1917, in New York City, to Laviere and Clotilde Coronato. She married John L. McElroy, Jr., on January 30, 1944. Surviving are daughters Kathy (Steve) Russ, Lorry (John) McIntyre, and Lynn McElroy (Joe Keenan), son-in-law Greg Powell, 9 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her husband; two sisters and two brothers; and a daughter, Margaret Powell. Madeline graduated in 1938 from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in languages. She worked for Warner Brothers Studios and became an active member of their theatre group called The Warner Club Players. When the U.S. entered WWII, the government recruited Madeline as a translator in the newly- created Office of War Information housed in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. It was in D.C. at an officers' dance that she met her future husband John. They moved to Chicago after the war and settled in Homewood where Madeline earned her teaching certificate and taught sixth grade for 25 years. They retired to Mesa, Arizona, in the early 80s, and enjoyed many years of golf, travel, ballroom dancing, and hosting family reunions. Madeline moved to Westminster Village in 2009 and to Martin Health Center in 2015. Her family would like to thank the staff at Westminster Village for providing an environment where she could thrive, Martin Health Center for giving her the care and attention she needed throughout the last four years, and OSF Hospice for their help and support during her final weeks. Madeline will be remembered for her love of reading, her adventurous spirit, and her incredible resilience.