Madalynne Mary "Maddy" Strascina

Madalynne Mary "Maddy" Strascina, age 94, passed away peacefully of natural causes, joining her LORD and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, May 23, 2015. Daughter of the late John J. and Rose M. James, Maddy was born in the coal-mining town of Pittston near Scranton, PA and raised in Buffalo, NY. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent "Jim" Strascina (1919-1989) and by younger son, John "Jak" Strascina (1946-2010.) Maddy's memory lives on in the hearts of her older son, Peter Strascina (Linda), daughter-in-law Yvonne Strascina, and four grandchildren: Tony Vincent (Aspen), New York City; Francesca Garcia (Michael), Albuquerque; Ian Strascina (Katie), Las Cruces, NM; and Meghan Nicholson (William) of Albuquerque. She loved and enjoyed her six great-grandchildren: Gabriella and Simon Garcia, and Elle Nicholson, Albuquerque; Gavin and Brendan Strascina, Las Cruces; and Sadie Day Vincent, New York City. She also leaves many cherished nieces and nephews throughout the U.S. Affectionately known to her family as "Nana" and "Marm," Madalynne performed as "Boots James" from the mid-1930s through the '40s, when she sang and played jazz piano professionally with big bands throughout the Northeast and the Great Lakes regions. At age 12, she won a national radio talent contest on "Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour" on NBC in New York, and thus began her singing career. In 1954, the family relocated to Albuquerque where husband Jim came to work at Sandia Labs. As a first-class homemaker, cook and gardener, Maddy was well-known for her love of baking Italian bread and hundreds of dozens of Italian cookies during each Christmas season; growing prize-winning tomatoes and cucumbers; and making homemade Italian sausage and many other wonderful Italian specialties for family and friends. A memorial celebration of Madalynne's life will be held Friday, June 19, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., with reception following at FRENCH - Wyoming. The family wishes to express our deepest appreciation to the compassionate and caring staff and management of Casa Palo Duro, Maddy's excellent senior residence home for the past 15-months, as well as the outstanding caregivers from Hospice de la Luz. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Rock at NoonDay homeless shelter, P.O. Box 25451, Albuquerque, NM 87125. Rest in peace in the LORD, Mom.