Veronica Irene Madden

Veronica Irene (Higgins) Madden, known as Ronnie to many, was born on December 12, 1940 in Yonkers, New York one of seven children born to Florence (Wingrove) and Robert Higgins.

She passed away peacefully at home on October 17, 2021 in Bernalillo, New Mexico. She was able to say goodbye to all seven of her children as well as some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ronnie is survived by her husband of 65 years, James (Dennis) Madden and her children, Jayne D. Combs (John), Carolyn Madden, James D. Madden, Jr., Richard Madden (Julie), Tim Madden, Michael Madden, and Catherine Madden (AKA her BFF). She was blessed with 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Other survivors include three sisters, Virginia Bianco (Nicky), Terry Ann Silvestri (Lou), and Kathleen Antonaccio (Nicky), 2 brothers, Robert Higgins (Shirley) and Tommy Higgins (Betty) and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Florence Higgins; and her sister, Rita Ceccarelli (Joe).

Ronnie was raised in Yonkers, New York and attended Commerce High School. After getting married to James (Dennis) Madden, they began their family in Yonkers and then moved to Haverstraw, New York. They later took a leap of faith and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she was involved in Scouting and served as PTA president. Among other employment, she worked for J. C. Penney in Albuquerque for thirty years where her smile and great sense of humor endeared her to customers and coworkers alike. Ronnie and her husband moved to Los Ojos (Piñon Ridge), New Mexico where she enjoyed playing MahJong with great neighbors and watching the wildlife in the backyard. The couple also had a home in Bernalillo where she enjoyed going out to eat and shopping at thrift shops and arts and crafts fairs with her daughter Catherine who lived with them.

Ronnie will be honored at a Celebration of Life to be held at a later to be determined date where family and friends may come to share their love and stories about this amazing woman.

T he family would like to thank the medical staff and caregivers at Rust Presbyterian, UNMH, Sandoval Rescue, and Ambercare Hospice for taking such good care of their wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. They made Veronica and her family feel as comfortable as possible going through a very difficult time.

The family requests that all donations be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in the name of Veronica Madden.