Amazing and Beloved Florence McFadden of Batavia Dies at 106; Memorial Service Planned for Nov. 25

Florence Breen McFadden of Batavia, IL, formerly of Ridgewood, NJ, died on Oct. 24, in Batavia. She was 106 years old.

A Requiem Mass will be held at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Ridgewood, NJ, on Oct. 29. Burial will follow that day at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, NJ, in the family plot next to her beloved husband Joseph A. McFadden.

A memorial service will be held in Geneva on Nov. 25. Father Robert Sherry will officiate at the Geneva service. 

Florence May Breen was one of nine children born to David and Lucy Breen in Reading, PA, in 1905. After graduating from secretarial school, she was employed in a Reading bank when she met Joseph Aull McFadden, whom she married in 1931.

Joe McFadden's career took them to the New York area then to Louisville, KY, where their first child, David, was born. In 1940 they settled in Ridgewood. She was a loving, supportive wife to Joe who was executive vice president and chief credit officer of The Chemical Bank when he retired in 1969. He died in 1971. Florence lived in Ridgewood until 2004, when she moved to Batavia.

Florence and Joe had two sons, David (Linda) McFadden of Geneva, and Joseph Hugh (Camilla) McFadden of NYC, who were raised in Ridgewood. She was grandmother to Cristina McFadden of Cambridge, MA, Heather (Chris) Redic of Winthrop Harbor, IL, Dan (Jessica) McFadden of Naperville, IL and Maureen (Scott) Olofsson, of Glen Ellyn, IL. She was great-grandmother to Melissa and Linnea Oloffson, Nicholas Redic and Marta McFadden.

Florence was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandparent and great grandparent. She was a faithful and active member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and a leader in the church's Altar Society.

She was an avid and successful golfer, winning many trophies at the Ridgewood Country Club, and a formidable competitive bridge player. Florence was admired by her family and friends for her strength of character and lifelong love of learning. Her particular interests were current events, art and world affairs. She read widely and traveled around the world seeking out museums and places of historical significance.

She had a great love of the natural world and gardening that she shared with many family members. Florence left a legacy of love, strength, determination and a commitment to learning to her family who will deeply miss her.

Contributions in Florence's memory can be made to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, One Passaic Street, Ridgewood, NJ, 07450. Arrangements Feeney Funeral Home, Ridgewood. Local Arrangements by , Geneva www.malonefh.com or for information 630-232-8233.

This notice and photo are courtesy of Malone Funeral Home.