Sang with jazz band
NORTH READING — Madeline M. (Gushue) Reagan, 94, of Salem, formerly of North Reading and Medford, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 at the North Shore Medical Center in Salem.
Born in East Boston on Feb. 5, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Bridget (Besso) Gushue. She grew up East Boston with her five sisters and two brothers, graduated from East Boston High School in 1938. She worked as a secretary. Madeline had a beautiful singing voice. She won contests and sang with a local jazz band. She worked at the Boston Navy Yard at one point and also did volunteer work during World War II. She traveled cross country with her brother and his family. Once she reached southern California, she decided to make it home for several years.
When she returned Massachusetts in the early ’50s, she worked for the Beechnut Gum Company where she met Charlie Reagan. They married in 1955, moved to North Reading and raised their three children. She was a devoted homemaker, loved to cook and bake. She was an active member of St. Theresa Church for many years. She was a volunteer at church, a member of the choir and she participated in the chorus of a local theater group. Madeline and Charlie enjoyed a large group of friends which included her beloved sisters and their husbands. They had many memorable times and went on cruises together.
She had an amazing inner strength. Madeline loved her family. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and baking cookies with them. She also held her great friends close to her heart. Family members include her loving husband of 57 years, Charles J. Reagan; her son, James Reagan and his wife Brenda of Derry, N.H.; her daughter, Patricia Ryan and her husband Matthew of Salem and Carol Rice and her husband Paul of Concord; her grandchildren Kerry Reagan, Michelle Rice, Matthew Reagan and Lily Ryan; sister of Edward Gushue of Connecticut, sister of the late Gerald Gushue, Frances Ford, Eleanor Sheehan, Alice Sweeney and Ann Penksa. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Her funeral was from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading on Saturday, Sept. 20, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Theresa Church, 63 Winter St. (Rt. 62), North Reading. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis TN 38148-0142 or www.stjude.org.
