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September 22, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, September 25, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. An Eastern Star service will take place during visitation at 7:30.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 26, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to Holy Cross R.C. Church, 17 Van Duyne Ave., Wayne, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Interment will follow at Crest Haven Memorial Park, Clifton.
Madelyn E. Bekker, age 86 of Wayne, died peacefully on Monday morning, September 22, 2014.
Born and raised in Bergen County, she had been a resident of Wayne since 1954.
Following graduation from Hackensack High School, Madelyn went to work as a legal secretary in the Hackensack Courthouse for five years with Judge J. Rotolo. During those early working years, like anyone else, Madelyn liked to relax a bit on the weekend and have a little fun. One night, while out roller skating with her girlfriends, a young, handsome ballroom skater named Andy Bekker approached Madelyn and asked if she would like to skate with him. To his delight, Madelyn said yes and a loving relationship was born that night. They married on March 19, 1952 at St. John’s R.C. Church in Leonia. Madelyn continued to work for Judge Rotolo but eventually left the workforce to raise her children.
In 1954, she and Andy moved to Wayne. That year they began attending mass at Holy Cross Church in Wayne’s Mountain View section. While Holy Cross always remained Madelyn’s home parish she also served as a Eucharistic Minister from 2010 to 2012 at Holy Spirit Church in Pequannock. Her faith in God was a foundational part of her life and she put her faith in action for over twenty-five years as a volunteer at Chilton Hospital where she politely knocked on the door of patients and offered to pray with them. She enjoyed volunteering there so much!
Madelyn was also a member and Past Matron of Mountain View Chapter #205 Order of the Eastern Star of NJ for over twenty-five years. She was also a member of Maalas Temple #20 Daughters of the Nile.
She loved spending time in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Ever since 1954, the family vacationed there, always renting a home in the summer. In 1980, when Andy retired, they built their own Cape Cod dream home. Sadly, Andy only got to enjoy one summer in their new house as he passed the following year, but Madelyn continued to summer there until two years ago. She thought nothing of getting into her car, one of her faithful dogs by her side, and driving the five-and-a-half hour trip to the Cape. She made it a game to get there in record time and once she arrived, she cherished the peaceful state of mind and overall sense of calm that Cape Cod helped her feel. Speaking of dogs…..she had many of “man’s best friend” and cherished each one: Robin, Christy, Trevor, Buddy, Penny, Skipper, Duchess, Duke and, most recently, Ginger. Madelyn's traveling wasn't limited to just Cape Cod. With her family and friends, she saw numerous worldwide destinations including Canada, Scandinavia, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Spain, England, Scotland, Wales, Australia, Russia, the Baltic States and the Netherlands, to name a few.
Madelyn also enjoyed knocking down pins with her friends bowling with the Tuesday morning league at T-Bowl. She bowled for over thirty years only giving it up in 2012 due to a fall. A self-proclaimed technically challenged individual, she could always count on her son Michael or her son-in-law Steven to help her program or troubleshoot her VCR, remotes, timers or cell phone. She so much enjoyed daily conversations with her son Stephen and was thankful for how he faithfully helped her maintain her home.
Madelyn’s trade mark words will be cherished and remembered by all who knew her well. If you said “Love you” her reply was always “Love you More!”
Surviving to mourn her loss are Madelyn’s three children: Stephen Bekker of Clifton, Kathleen Bekker and husband Steven Kurdyla of Towaco, and Michael Bekker and wife Sheila of Kinnelon; four adored grandchildren: Kimberly and husband Jason, Dana Lynn, Mackenzie, and Andy; and her sister-in-law Carol LaVigne of Sanford, FL. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Andrew in 1980, and her brother Kenneth LaVigne.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Madelyn’s name are asked to consider the New Jersey Eastern Star Home, 111 Finderne Ave., Bridgewater, NJ 08807.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, September 25, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. An Eastern Star service will take place during visitation at 7:30.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 26, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to Holy Cross R.C. Church, 17 Van Duyne Ave., Wayne, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Interment will follow at Crest Haven Memorial Park, Clifton.
September 22, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, September 25, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. An Eastern Star service will take place during visitation at 7:30.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 26, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to Holy Cross R.C. Church, 17 Van Duyne Ave., Wayne, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Interment will follow at Crest Haven Memorial Park, Clifton.
Madelyn E. Bekker, age 86 of Wayne, died peacefully on Monday morning, September 22, 2014.
Born and raised in Bergen County, she had been a resident of Wayne since 1954.
Following graduation from Hackensack High School, Madelyn went to work as a legal secretary in the Hackensack Courthouse for five years with Judge J. Rotolo. During those early working years, like anyone else, Madelyn liked to relax a bit on the weekend and have a little fun. One night, while out roller skating with her girlfriends, a young, handsome ballroom skater named Andy Bekker approached Madelyn and asked if she would like to skate with him. To his delight, Madelyn said yes and a loving relationship was born that night. They married on March 19, 1952 at St. John’s R.C. Church in Leonia. Madelyn continued to work for Judge Rotolo but eventually left the workforce to raise her children.
In 1954, she and Andy moved to Wayne. That year they began attending mass at Holy Cross Church in Wayne’s Mountain View section. While Holy Cross always remained Madelyn’s home parish she also served as a Eucharistic Minister from 2010 to 2012 at Holy Spirit Church in Pequannock. Her faith in God was a foundational part of her life and she put her faith in action for over twenty-five years as a volunteer at Chilton Hospital where she politely knocked on the door of patients and offered to pray with them. She enjoyed volunteering there so much!
Madelyn was also a member and Past Matron of Mountain View Chapter #205 Order of the Eastern Star of NJ for over twenty-five years. She was also a member of Maalas Temple #20 Daughters of the Nile.
She loved spending time in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Ever since 1954, the family vacationed there, always renting a home in the summer. In 1980, when Andy retired, they built their own Cape Cod dream home. Sadly, Andy only got to enjoy one summer in their new house as he passed the following year, but Madelyn continued to summer there until two years ago. She thought nothing of getting into her car, one of her faithful dogs by her side, and driving the five-and-a-half hour trip to the Cape. She made it a game to get there in record time and once she arrived, she cherished the peaceful state of mind and overall sense of calm that Cape Cod helped her feel. Speaking of dogs…..she had many of “man’s best friend” and cherished each one: Robin, Christy, Trevor, Buddy, Penny, Skipper, Duchess, Duke and, most recently, Ginger. Madelyn's traveling wasn't limited to just Cape Cod. With her family and friends, she saw numerous worldwide destinations including Canada, Scandinavia, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Spain, England, Scotland, Wales, Australia, Russia, the Baltic States and the Netherlands, to name a few.
Madelyn also enjoyed knocking down pins with her friends bowling with the Tuesday morning league at T-Bowl. She bowled for over thirty years only giving it up in 2012 due to a fall. A self-proclaimed technically challenged individual, she could always count on her son Michael or her son-in-law Steven to help her program or troubleshoot her VCR, remotes, timers or cell phone. She so much enjoyed daily conversations with her son Stephen and was thankful for how he faithfully helped her maintain her home.
Madelyn’s trade mark words will be cherished and remembered by all who knew her well. If you said “Love you” her reply was always “Love you More!”
Surviving to mourn her loss are Madelyn’s three children: Stephen Bekker of Clifton, Kathleen Bekker and husband Steven Kurdyla of Towaco, and Michael Bekker and wife Sheila of Kinnelon; four adored grandchildren: Kimberly and husband Jason, Dana Lynn, Mackenzie, and Andy; and her sister-in-law Carol LaVigne of Sanford, FL. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Andrew in 1980, and her brother Kenneth LaVigne.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Madelyn’s name are asked to consider the New Jersey Eastern Star Home, 111 Finderne Ave., Bridgewater, NJ 08807.
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