Madeline Maria DuBois

Madeline Maria DuBois

Mrs. Madeline Maria DuBois, 86, born on June 27, 1923, in Katowice, Poland, to the late Marie Kotala, passed away on Saturday, May 1, 2010, at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

She came to Charlottesville in 1999 from Florida to live near her daughter, Rosemarie Hanley and her family. She resided at Arbor Crest, Woods Edge, and most recently at Jefferson Heights.

She was predeceased by the father of her children, Joseph Filipkowski; husband, Joseph R. DuBois; and her beloved son, John M. Filipkowski. Also, by her stepparents in Poland who treated her like a princess in her childhood years.

She was a wonderful and much loved mother and grandmother. Left to cherish her memory are her son, Joseph T. Filipkowski and his wife, Donna, of Jensen Beach, Florida; her daughters, Rosemarie Hanley and her husband, Dell, of Charlottesville, and Jan Vetterling and her husband, Bruce, of Lee, New Hampshire; grandchildren, Ronald Filipkowski and his wife, Jackie, Mark Filipkowski and his wife, Kim, Jon Filipkowski, Matthew Hanley and his wife, Janette, Jared Hanley, Rachel Hanley, Pamela MacDonald and her husband, Chris, and Heidi Vetterling and her fiance, Garrett Smith. She adored her great-grandchildren, Ron, Colin, Andrew, Taylor, Katherine, Mason, Haley, and Madeline, which she was so happy to have visited in Florida in February, and William, the "little one" in Virginia.

By beginning her life in an orphanage, surviving World War II, and persevering through the difficult first years in America, she showed her survivor spirit. She, Joseph and son, "Teddy", arrived at Ellis Island in 1949, settling in Deerfield and Whately, Massachusetts. Mrs. DuBois held various jobs and displayed her exemplary work ethic to her children. The family moved to Greenfield in 1966. After husband Joseph's death in 1969, she met and married Joseph DuBois in 1974. They spent many happy years together and settled in Jensen Beach, Florida. Her "Romeo" passed away in 1989.

She was a member of The Catholic Women's Society in MA for several decades and gave selflessly to all. She loved being with her family, and watching her grandchildren's activities. She had many, many talents.

Her family wishes to express their thanks to the dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff who cared for Ma at University of Virginia and also Sandy Mowbray at the JABA Clinic on Hillsdale Drive, for her never ending, patience, professionalism, and kindness over the years.

Visitation will be 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Church of the Incarnation, a Mass of the Resurrection at 7:30 p.m., followed by a reception. Hill and Wood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Graveside services will follow 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 10, 2010, at Calvary Cemetery in Greenfield, Massachusetts, followed by a reception. Kostanski Funeral Home is charge of arrangements.

She had a green thumb and appreciated the beauty around her, especially flowers. For those who choose to honor her memory otherwise please send your donations to The American Lung Association.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.