Published July 31, 2020
MELROSE — Lillian “Dolly” (O’Sullivan) Madden of Melrose, formerly of Skibbereen, Co. Cork, Ireland, died peacefully on July 22, 2020. She was the beloved wife of Mike Madden of Melrose. Loving mother of Janice Camuso and her husband Rick of Reading, Michael Madden and his wife Jackie of Virginia, Dermot Madden and his wife Erin of Melrose, and Cecelia Madden of Wakefield. Dolly is also survived by eight loving grandchildren – Kelly, Brendan, Liam, Sullivan, Sean, Seamus, Brigid, and Molly, as well many relatives.
Arriving in Boston in 1957, armed with only her Irish charm and little sister June, Dolly quickly learned U.S. currency and secured a job with United Way making $117 a week as a bookkeeper.
In 1961, at the Bay State Ballroom, Dolly found herself overcome with cement dust and love at first site when she was introduced to Mike Madden, a bricklayer from Moycullen, Co. Galway. Dolly and Mike married at St. Cecilia’s Church, Back Bay and settled down in Melrose, which Dolly described as “practically in Vermont!”
Dolly and Mike raised four kids and made trips back to Ireland whenever they could. Proud to be Irish in America, Dolly was even more proud to be an American in Ireland and would make sure that every sing along ended with God Bless America.
Despite not having a formal education, Dolly was business savvy and had an ability to do complex math without paper or calculator. She managed billing for Mike’s mason business and Melrose hardware store and shared a paper route with one of her kids who sometimes even helped. Dolly rarely sat still and most enjoyed cleaning, including vacuuming bedrooms early on Saturday mornings when kids thought they could sleep in.
She will be remembered for frequently, accidentally setting herself on fire. Although her firefighter husband barely noticed, her children did give her a fire extinguisher for Christmas after she set a wooden toilet seat on fire.
If you hosted a wedding, class reunion, or graduation party in the Boston area and could never figure out who the mystery couple was who signed your guest book, Dolly’s family thanks you for your hospitality.
Visiting hours were held on Tuesday, July 28 from 5-8 p.m. at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a funeral Mass will be held privately at St. Mary’s Church in Melrose. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Running Strong for American Indian Youth https://indianyouth.org.
