Madeline Obrien

Madeline Jean Maglione O’Brien March 4, 1922 – May 8, 2023 Madeline Jean Maglione O’Brien died at the age of 101 at her daughter’s home in Fairhope, Alabama on May 8, 2023, surrounded by family. She is preceded in death by her husband James William O’Brien, her brothers James Maglione (Florence) and Joseph Maglione and her sisters Mary Sutton (Rodney) and Rose Gallaher (William). She is survived by her sons William A. O’Brien, Patrick J. O’Brien and his wife Martha, Joseph A. O’Brien and his wife Nancy, Michael F. O’Brien and his wife Rita and by her daughter Barbara L. O’Brien and her husband Michael P. Houston. She is survived by seven grandchildren : Maxfield O’Brien, Elliott and Clare O’Brien, Patrick, Jessica and Christopher Houston, Kevin O’Brien and many nieces and nephews. Madeline was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, the oldest of five children born to Italian immigrants Giuseppe Maglione and Giovanina Gudicianni. Madeline distinguished herself early, graduating from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She considered becoming a nun with the Little Sisters of Charity but left the vocation before taking vows. Soon afterwards, she met the love of her life, Jim O’Brien who after having served as a bomber pilot in WW II, was completing a Metallurgical Engineering degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. They were married on February 11, 1950 at St. Mary’s Church in Troy, New York. They began the early years of their marriage raising five young children in Greenville, Michigan. In 1967 they moved to their beloved Cleveland Heights, Ohio. They were married for 67 years. They spent their final years in Fairhope, Alabama in comfort and excellent care thanks to their caregivers: Carole, Elaine, Shanreka, Brenda, Bernadette, Liz and Patrick. Madeline was an outstanding nurse. She had an exceptional bedside manner and a gift for bringing care and comfort to every one of her patients. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, cooking and travelling with Jim. She was known for her Italian meatballs and her guacamole dip. She was fluent in Italian, which proved useful as she was able to communicate in Spanish when she and Jim lived in Toluca, Mexico for one year in the 1980’s. She was an avid Cleveland Indians fan and loved cheering on the Tribe at games in downtown Cleveland at the old Municipal Stadium on Lake Erie. In her later years, she was often featured on the local news stations in Cleveland as the granny in downtown Cleveland’s Public Square protesting the war in Iraq. Madeline was a devout Catholic and her love for her faith never wavered. She considered prayer an essential aspect of her life. She was a friend to everyone she met and approached everyone with a smile and kindness. She was thankful to everyone who showed her kindness even if it was the smallest of gestures that most of us would take for granted. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was frequently asked for words of wisdom in her later years and her answer was, “ Be kind to everyone and especially be kind to yourself”. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to the charity of your choice. Madeline’s favorite charities were St. Colman Church in Cleveland, Ohio, Shepherd’s Place Adult Day Respite in Fairhope, Alabama and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Mass for Madeline will be celebrated at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church in Foley, Alabama at 10 am on Saturday June 17, 2023 followed by a reception afterwards in Magnolia Springs, Alabama. All are welcome.

Madeline Obrien

May 8, 2023

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Madeline Obrien

May 8, 2023

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

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