Madeline A. Sardo July 22, 1917 - February 13, 2013

Madeline A. Sardo was born July 22, 1917, in Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents, Angela and Carmine Marano came from Italy to Boston just after the turn of the century. Madeline attended St. Mary’s School in Boston. As a child, she studied violin with her instructor, Antonio Sardo, who, years later, would become her husband. Although she was fourteen years of age and he was twenty-six, with special dispensation from the local bishop, they were married in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Boston on July 26, 1931. They shared a wonderful marriage full of love and music. Madeline joined her husband Tony in the family furniture business. Through her six sons and a number of her daughters and grandchildren, the family business continues today, into its fourth generation.

Madeline and Tony had sixteen children born in Boston. They made their home in Malden,
Massachusetts. However, each year they took time, with their children, to enjoy their summer home in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Their seventeenth child was born shortly after they moved out west to Glendale, California in 1955. They worked together with their children to continue the family business. Having such a large family, there were many occasions to celebrate, such as birthdays, weddings, and graduations; each occasion always accompanied by great food and beautiful music.

After losing her beloved Tony in 1965, Madeline immersed herself in volunteer work at Glendale Adventist Medical Center as a “Pink Lady”. She had a natural ability to counsel those patients with serious illnesses. She further volunteered for many, many years with the Women’s Committee of the Glendale Symphony Orchestra. She was involved in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Association, the Glendale Sister City program, both in Mexico and Japan, and the Chevy Chase Garden Club. In addition, she found time to teach Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine at Holy Family Catholic Church in Glendale, where she was a longtime parishioner.

Madeline lost her daughter, Angela Humbert [Hans] in 2007 and her daughter Anita Machado (Tony) in 2010. She is survived by fifteen of her seventeen children: Connie Michaelides (John), Philip (Virginia), Madeline Henkels (Peter), Tony (Carol), Christine Marsh(John), Carmine (Susan), Buddy (Marina), Phyllis Manfra (Greg), Cynthia Chernack (Steven), Sonny (Deenie), Lea Sever (Marty), Louis (Jeanie), Josephine Algiers (Joseph), Michele Saunders (Richard), and Gini Martin (Robert).

In addition, she is survived by eighty grandchildren, one hundred and fifty great- grandchildren, and sixteen great- great- grandchildren. Madeline and her husband Tony have built a legacy that will live on for many, many generations.

On February 13, 2013, at 8:20 p.m., at ninety-five years of age, Madeline A. Sardo, surrounded by her surviving children, peacefully passed away in her home in Glendale.

Viewing from 2:00-6:00 p.m.
February 20, 2013
Cabot & Sons
27 Chestnut Street
Pasadena, California 91103

Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
February 20, 2013
St. Andrew’s Catholic Church
311 North Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, California 91103

Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m.
February 21, 2013
St. Andrew’s Catholic Church
311 North Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, California 91103

Burial immediately following at:
San Fernando Mission Cemetery
11160 Stranwood Avenue
Mission Hills, California 91345

All arrangements handled by Cabot & Sons Funeral Directors, Pasadena, California 91103