Madeline A. Sardo was born July 22, 1917, in Boston, MA. 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, MA. Each year they took time, with their children, to enjoy their summer home in Wilmington, MA. Their seventeenth child was born shortly after they moved out west to Glendale, CA 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 Feb. 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 will be from 2:00-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 at Cabot & Sons, 27 Chestnut St., Pasadena, CA 91103, with Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 311 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103. Funeral Mass Thursday, Feb. 21, 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew's Catholic Church with burial immediately following at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, 11160 Stranwood Ave., Mission Hills, CA 91345. All arrangements handled by Cabot & Sons Funeral Directors. Family Contact: Sonny Sardo 818-249-3923 or 818-640-2097.