Madelyn (Mahoney) Bilodeau

Madelyn Mahoney Bilodeau died unexpectedly on October 10, 2025 at her Newton residence. She was 96.

Madelyn is survived and missed by her loving husband Gerald of 69 years; her children Gerald E. and his wife Sharon, Thomas and his wife Karen, Francis, Matthew, Mark and his wife Kate, and Anne (Bilodeau) Pickett and her husband John; and her grandchildren, Rebecca, Gerry, Tommy, Brian, Tim, Jake, Teddy, Jack, and Madelyn.

She was the daughter of the late Edward Aloysius Mahoney and Mildred (Collins) Mahoney, and was preceded in death by her two brothers, Dr. Morgan Mahoney and Dr. Edward M. Mahoney and survived by her sisters-in-law, Emilie Mahoney and Gertrude Mahoney.

Madelyn had an indomitable spirit that inspired those who knew and loved her. Afflicted with macular degeneration from her teen years, she never let her impaired vision get in the way of important pursuits. After graduating from Newton High school, she went on to study sociology at Newton College of the Sacred Heart, receiving her bachelor’s degree in 1951. A student of piano since childhood, she played throughout her life. Her college yearbook described “Her delightful and frequent renditions of Gershwin or a bit of the Petite Waltz have filled many in-between class intervals and helped to stage impromptu community sings.”

After college, Madelyn went on to teach second grade in Waltham and Brighton. Her background in teaching enabled her to forge deep connections with her six children and nine grandchildren. She had a knack for entering a child’s world through play and deep listening. She was also an organizational genius. To make laundry sorting easier, she assigned each of her five sons a specific sock color so she could easily keep track of which socks belonged to which son.

While raising her children, she also found time to explore her own creativity through cooking and baking. She did so much more than just feed her family; she baked and decorated extraordinary cakes, including a memorable tiger cake celebrating Newton North football.

Her other passions included spending time at the beach, where she loved to walk and collect shells and sea glass, and caring for the family’s succession of dogs, including her granddog, Buddy.

Though quiet and reserved, Madelyn was never shy about defending her beliefs. When McDonald’s wanted to put a restaurant in Newtonville, she organized community members and business leaders to speak out against the chain in an effort to preserve the character of Newtonville.

Madelyn’s commitment to family and community was only superseded by her commitment to God and the church. She was a lifelong congregant of Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Newtonville, where she participated in many prayer groups. Outside of Our Lady’s, she was a stalwart advocate for Christian values, which she modeled through her own kindness and compassion.

Visiting hours will take place Tuesday, October 14 from 4-7 PM. The funeral mass will be held at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Newtonville at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, October 15. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Needham.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Madelyn’s name to The Carroll Center for the Blind, 770 Centre St., Newton MA 02458, would be appreciated.  

To view a livestream of the Mass go to http://www.harborview.live

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