Madelyn Mary (Higgins) Conron

Madelyn Mary Higgins Conron, 83, of Ellicott City, Maryland, passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Madelyn was predeceased in 2018 by her beloved husband of 54 years, Michael John Conron, and is survived by her son Michael William Conron and his wife Gena Marie, her daughter Jennifer Conron Jackson and her husband Joe, her five grandchildren, Matthew Jackson (27), Carolyn (24), Abigail Jackson (22), Michael John (21) and Patrick (18), all of Ellicott City and her dear cousin Honora Duncan of Santa Barbara, California.

Madelyn was born in Teaneck, New Jersey on November 24, 1940, and grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey as an only child after the tragic and untimely death of her sister Doreen. She attended Holy Trinity High School and the Berkeley Business School before starting her career as a secretary at Bendix Corporation where she met Mike.  They were married in 1963 and moved to Maryland in 1970.  She finished her career with 20 years of service in the department of accounting at Loyola College where she acted as a mentor, friend, and sometimes surrogate mother to countless work-studies who have kept in touch through the years.

Madelyn was a world class roller-skater. With her partner Earl Roberts, she was the US Amateur Roller-Skating Association National Champion for Senior Dance in 1957 and 1960 and first runner up in 1956. In 1957, she also received the USARSA Gold Proficiency Medal in Dance and Figures (roller skating’s highest award).  After the national championships in 1960, Madelyn was invited to train with the US Figure Skating Team to convert to ice and tryout for the 1964 Olympics. After the tragic deaths of the entire team and her coaches in a plane crash in February 1961, Madelyn left skating.

Mike and Madelyn raised their family in Phoenix, Maryland where they were active at St. John the Evangelist Church in Hydes. Devoted parents, Mike and Madelyn worked tirelessly to give their children every advantage, even during hard times. They put their children through twelve years of Catholic school, college and law school.  Always present in their lives, Madelyn was a constant source of emotional support, love, and tenderness for her children. Her kindness, love, and faith in God brightened the lives of all who knew her.

Madelyn and Mike retired in 2004, moved to Ellicott City and joined St. Paul’s Church, where Mike served as a lector for many years. Madelyn and Mike had an especially joyous retirement because they were able to spend their free time doing the things they loved. First among these was watching grandchildren in activities all over town.  Whether a competitive sport, scouts, a band concert, or a dance recital, Madelyn and Mke were there watching the successes and providing support for the disappointments. One of her last memories, five days before her death, was sitting in the stands cheering for her grandson Patrick as he scored a goal in a high school lacrosse game.

Madelyn also loved to travel. With close friends in tow, she and Mike set out to explore the world. They made trips in the U.S. and to many places in Europe including Italy, France, England, and Spain (a two-week bus trip at age 73!). She was infinitely patient with her husband who could not enter a museum without reading every sign. Closer to home, Madelyn loved to vacation with her grandchildren, sisters-in-law and close friends in the Outer Banks, Bethany Beach, Deep Creek Lake, and Aruba.

Madelyn will be deeply missed by her family and so many friends.

A visitation will be held at the Candlelight Funeral Home on Sunday, April 21, from 2 to 5 pm.  A Roman Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday April 22 at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ellicott City.  Inurnment will take place on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 11:30am in May at the Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery in Owings Mills.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Madelyn’s name to:

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet –Attention: Development

385 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham NY 12110

Tel: 1-518-783-3500