Madeleine Stampfli Carlson

4/13/38 – 6/13/24

Madeleine was born April 13, 1938 in Zurich Switzerland to Walter (a butcher who owned a metzgerei in Niederlenz, Switzerland) and Matilda Stampfli (who ran the Stampfli Metzgerei). Madeleine was the eldest of nine. When she was 18 she moved to Paris to become an Aui Pair and to attend secretarial school. It was in Paris that she met and fell in love with David Carpenter Carlson who was on leave from the Army. They were married in Niederlenz on November 10,1958 and honeymooned in Switzerland.

Madeleine came to the U.S via the RMS Queen Elizabeth to live with her new husband. She and Dave spent a brief stint owning and living in a multi-family home in Dorchester, MA before buying their fixer upper dream home in Hull MA. Madeleine and Dave rounded out their family with two children, Peter Hyde Carlson and Jennifer Carpenter Carlson. Madeleine and Dave divorced in 1978. After a 12-year relationship with Bob Cowan of Cambridge, MA, Madeleine remained independent and single (her choice). Madeleine resided in the Hull home until her retirement in 2003. She lived one year in Quincy and then bought a condo in Pawtucket, RI to be near Jennifer and her grandchildren, where she lived until the last nine days of her life.

Madeleine was a hard working single mom who had several jobs to make ends meet for she and her children. Among the jobs, she was secretary to the Hull finance committee, and Office Manager at Corporate Risk Advisors in Charlestown, MA. She also volunteered for the Fort Revere Park Preservation society in Hull.

While Madeleine was an introvert at heart, she had a rich social life, was quick with a smile, and made friends much more easily than she would admit. One of her most dear social groups was called the “German Mafia”, which was made up of Madeleine and several German ladies who all happened to be single moms.

Madeleine leaves a legacy of Swiss pride, frugality, thriftiness and traditions. She was crafty and creative always making and fixing things out of whatever she had around the house. She was an adventurous spirit and world traveler. She took great joy in sharing favorite places she discovered with her friends and family, including a pin ball museum in Pawtucket with her children and grandchildren a few months before she died.

In addition to Peter Carlson and Jennifer Carlson Reynolds, Madeleine’s family grew to include: Wendy Carlson (Peter’s wife), Katelyn Carlson (granddaughter), Andrew Carlson (grandson), Chris Reynolds (Jennifer’s husband), Alexis Romano (granddaughter), Daniel Romano (grandson) and Lauren Reynolds (granddaughter).

She will remain loved by so many other family members and friends. We will always remember her with smiles, when we repeat her favorite toast: “To the children of our parents, may their lives be prosperous, healthy and full of love”.

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