Madelene Mary Rose

Madelene Mary Rose, 93, of Grand Island went to her eternal home on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1st, at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow at St. Libory Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday with a Wake Service/Rosary at 7:00 at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. All Faiths Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Madelene (baptized Rosa Lee) was born July 31, 1931, on Ryno Table, Custer County, west of Broken Bow. She was the 8th child of John Joseph and Ethel May (Drake) Rose. The Great Depression caused the loss of this farm, forcing the family to move to a farm west of Broken Bow. When eight years old, she along with sister Margery and cousin Joanne were sent to a boarding school run by the Franciscan Order of Nuns in St. Libory, NE. Her parents moved to a farm west of St. Libory and Rosa Lee completed her elementary education at the country school. She then went to High School at St. Mary’s in Grand Island, taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Madelene felt drawn to their way of life and after graduation she entered the Convent’s Motherhouse in Concordia. When admitted to the Novitiate and receiving the Habit worn by the Sisters, she was given the name “Madelene” which she kept the rest of her life. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Marymount College in education and a minor in art. Later she received a Master’s Degree in Theology from Manhattan, the Christian Brothers’ College in the Bronx, New York City. As a teacher she was assigned to teach the primary grades and later assigned as teacher and principal of Junior high grades in schools in Missouri, Kansas and New Mexico. After several years she felt that God had different plans for her. She received an internship as a Chaplain in a Wichita, Kansas hospital followed by an advanced one at Hazelden, a treatment center in Minnesota, where she trained as a counselor and Chaplain. This began her journey into the field of addiction and recovery based on the 12-Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. She was hired as chaplain and counselor in treatment centers for seven years when she felt called to a different journey. She left her religious order after 27 years and began a private practice as a Licensed Mental Counselor, working primarily with recovering alcoholics and co-dependents, and person dealing with sexual abuse. She kept the name of Madelene because this was how she was known professionally. In 2010 Madelene retired and moved from Omaha back to Grand Island to be near family members. She had been a member of art groups in Omaha and continued with G.I. art clubs and was a member of Prairie Winds Art Gallery. As well as trying to help people discover their spiritual sober pathway to their High Power, she enjoyed using oil paints to depict a bit of the beauty of God shining from people and nature, through her portraits and landscapes. Madelene’s two or three cats provided her with company, affection and amusement over many years. She was a longtime member of St. Leo’s Parish in Grand Island. Madelene is survived by her brother, Jim and wife, Judy of St. Paul; and by many dear nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ethel Rose; sisters, Margery Buhrman, Jeanne Deaton, Helen Ward; and brothers, Tom, Leo, Jack and Kenneth. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, KS.

Madelene Mary Rose

July 31, 1931 - March 18, 2025

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Madelene Mary Rose

July 31, 1931 - March 18, 2025

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support