Birth date: Oct 27, 1949 Death date: May 3, 2024
Madeline L. Frankenberger, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother. and friend, passed away on May 3, 2024, at Ascension Hospital in Racine, surrounded by her loving family. Madline was born to the late Robert and No Read Obituary
As I look back and reflect on the week before my mom passed I saw God at work. Mom had been sick for some time and had gone into the hospital for procedures and even minor surgery and I never heard about it until days or weeks later. My dad, Jerry, dealt with a lot with my mom's illness and that of my brother and he never reached out to anybody for help or to express his concern. That was until the Saturday before my mom passed away. Out of the blue, while doing some yard work, I got a call from my Aunt Charon in Florida. She told me that my dad was having a difficult time with what was happening with my mom and my brother who broke his hip and required surgery. But my dad handled much much more than this before, many times. This call prompted my wife and I to go visit my parents and we got to spend an hour talking with my mom at her bedside. She then went in the emergency room the next day, was released, and her final admission was that next Monday.
That week before my mom died God was especially gracious to me, my family, and my mother. Some people die suddenly or get real sick that they are unresponsive or in a coma, but we were blessed with four days to be with my mother before she died. It was such a blessing that my mom was alert almost all those days and she was surround by her husband, by her children, by her grandchildren, and others who loved her dearly before she died.
As difficult and heartbreaking as it can be to lose a parent, the time with my mom was beautiful and precious to each of us. We were all able to express how much we loved her, reminisce about some of our favorite memories, take a short video that I shared with my daughter who wasn't able to be here during this time, and she was even able to blow kisses to her great granddaughter. Most importantly, I had the opportunity to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ with my mom to which she responded affirmatively by shaking your head vigorously. I had shared the gospel with my mom before, but she wasn't receptive, but I believe God softened her heart and gave her his great gift of salvation at that moment. That gift means that I will one day see my mother again in heaven and in the presence of our almighty God.
The time since my mom passed, especially with planning her funeral, going through her old photos, and looking through beautiful artwork, have been sweet yet sad. I knew mom loved her arts, crafts, and antiques, but I never realized the extent of her creativity and talent.
I know my mom will be missed by all of us and that her memory will never fade from our minds. She was a good mother and a strong woman. Her perseverance over many difficult medical and life trials attest to this. With mom, you never wondered how she really felt or how she felt about any issue. She was brutally honest and quite blunt. But that was Mom, and we loved her. In many ways, the life and memory of mom should serve as an example for all of us.
Jerry's life was changed forever when he met Maddy. They were made for each other. Not long ago, Jerry shared with me that Maddy was the love of his life, and that he felt so blessed to have her. Our heartfelt sympathies are with Jerry and his sons, Jamie and Jordan, and his stepsons, Josh and Jason, and their families.
Sending much love, from Cousins, Mary DeMarco Scanlon and Dick Scanlon
