Madeline was a strong and intelligent woman who’s sharp mind and quick wit remained through her entire life. Born in 1932, her mother, Violet—of French and Swiss lineage—gave her a traditionally French name: Madeline Antoinette. Her father, a Danish immigrant named Niels Martin Knudsen, was an avid fisherman who imparted a lifelong love of summers spent at the Jersey shore — first in LBI and Ship Bottom, and later in Ocean Beach, in Lavallette. Throughout her early years, Madeline and her beloved cousin, Joan, would while away days and nights giggling through sleepovers (where sleep was secondary), frequenting the penny candy store on Prospect Street (sometimes with money intended for groceries), and once buying a baby chick (which, devastatingly, was later cooked by her father, as in the book and movie Madeline). Madeline’s brother introduced her to her future husband, John. Boldly keeping to the tradition of Sadie Hawkins Day, Madeline asked John out for their first date — a hayride with Luther League, a Lutheran youth social group. Madeline would often recount the story of the whiffletree breaking along their hayride’s route, ruining their hayride but making for a memorable first date. Madeline and John married in 1948 and remained married for 51 years, until his passing in 1999. After a honeymoon to Washington, D.C., the two settled down and had three children — Janet, John, and Karen. In the years that followed, Madeline enjoyed weekend trips by plane to local destinations with her family, flown by her husband, a hobbyist private pilot. Madeline had many hobbies of her own, including sewing, making matching dresses for herself and her daughters, crocheting, and knitting—which she excelled at, including altering intricate patterns to make them both seamless and reversible. Madeline won blue ribbons at the county fair for some of her best pieces. Beyond her skills as a seamstress, Madeline was also very proud of the blue ribbon she won for her delectable lemon meringue pie, which she spent years perfecting. In later years, Madeline survived critical spinal fractures of her neck, remaining fully mobile where most others become paralyzed, and the fracture of her femur, the largest bone in our bodies. Despite these and other discomforts, Madeline navigated the world with a warm smile and heartfelt politeness, generously thanking all those who helped care for her. Everyone who met Madeline instantly fell in love with her kind and sweet demeanor. She quickly became well known in her retirement village for her snazzy clothes, fancy shoes, and her high-tech Apple technology — even deftly calling for help from her Apple Watch after falling and breaking her femur alone in her apartment. Though she was often soft-spoken and gentle, Madeline shared so much useful and insightful knowledge with those who sought it. Similarly, she was no stranger to wit — recently quipping to a doctor, “Why do they call it Medicare, it should be called Medi-DON’T-care!” after Medicare denied coverage of care she needed. Over 91 years, Madeline lived a full, rich life surrounded by loving family whom she loved dearly. Family and friends are invited to visit at Boylan Funeral Home, 10 Wooding Avenue, Edison, NJ on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 8:30 a.m.. Funeral Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick, NJ. Donations in Madeline’s name can be made to the Salvation Army.