Deborah Madler

Debbie Madler, 66, of Farmland, IN, passed away on May 31th from kidney cancer. She was born to Gary Aldridge (deceased, wife Diane) and Mother Sharon Kay Brown (husband Allan Brown, deceased). Living childhood family members are her Mother (Sharon Brown), sister Ramona McFerran (Nick), and stepsisters Deann Calloway (Jim) ]and Lynn Burnside (widowed).

Important to her was that she lived her life faithful to her Catholic beliefs and knowledge that Jesus Christ is her Savior and Redeemer. On July 20, 1996 she began her 27 year marriage to Ken Madler at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Muncie, IN. She was warmly welcomed in his family and has always been a beloved sister and daughter who just knew how to fit in. She lovingly accepted Ken into her existing family. She leaves behind a legacy built upon characteristics that endeared her to people. Honesty, integrity, sense of fairness with inclusion, and loyalty were among her strongest qualities. You always knew where you stood with her and knew she would always speak the truth. Her favorite movie is “It’s a Wonderful Life” and she lived it out in how she made family her priority above all else. She has always been a fierce defender of her children and held them to high standards – she has been instrumental in forming them into admirable adults and they have done her proud. Her six successful children are her greatest achievement! Daughters Angela Snyder (Chad Winans), Jennifer Kindt-Knox (Jordan Knox), Mindy Hyre-Beckman (Kim), Melissa Rodeffer (Rodney) and sons Brian Stephens (fiancé’ Diane) and Aaron Stephens. This family has expanded to include 12 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Several nieces and nephews complete the family picture and they will continue to consider her their “other Mother”. Many of her favorite experiences are family gatherings to talk, share meals and stories, and just spend time to create memories of building a life with each other. Another important influence on her life was time involved the People of Praise and the many wonderful friends and memories from there.

She earned her nursing degree (with perfect attendance) and then worked in the Specialty Clinic at Ball Hospital for 24 years where she cared for patients and built lifelong friendships with many beloved co-workers and doctors. In 2008, she left to provide hospice care for her grandfather Howard and her loving caregiving skills afforded him another 8 months of life. She then changed her life direction to fulfill her lifelong dream of being in the wedding business, which led to the creation of Rose Gate Bridal Boutique. She began with rental of wedding items which then blossomed into what many women considered to be the classiest prom and bridal boutique in east central Indiana. Her unerring good taste in fashion and ability to understand what a woman needed to be beautiful allowed her client’s to confidently proclaim said "YES to the dress”. Sadly, her cancer diagnosis and ensuing illness forced her to close her boutique but innumerable prom and wedding memories resulted from her dedication to ensuring they had the perfect dress for their special day!

Another experience dear to her heart has been her love of being near the water. Her childhood was rich in time spent with her sisters and grandparents at the Hobbs lake house at Silver Creek, IN. This then translated to a wonderful life at her current lake home and ultimately culminated in the purchase of a home near the ocean. She loved the beach and the sound of ocean waves. She and Ken were blessed to have a home near Emerald Isle, NC where she spent many wonderful vacations with her family enjoying sun, sand, and watching for dolphins, which brought her great pleasure when they showed up. Her fondest memories of a well-lived life have been with her “girls” when on the beach.

Welcoming her to heaven are her maternal grandparents Howard and Lucille Hobbs and paternal grandparents Carl Aldridge (Nova, Nedra), Sister Terri, stepbrother (Jay Brown), sister in law (Kathy Madler), and Father in Law (Paul Madler). Debbie’s viewing and funeral mass will be held at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Winchester, IN on Thursday June 6, 2024 at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends from10:00 AM until 2:00 PM on Thursday at the church. Burial services will then commence immediately after Mass. Debbie will be laid to rest at the Saint Mary cemetery in Union City, IN. Please join our family for a meal at St. Joseph Church afterwards where you will be welcome to continue to reminisce about Debbie’s amazing life.

In conclusion, our family wishes to extend special gratitude to our neighbors for wonderful meals, our many prayer warriors, Drs. Joseph Dickey and Nabil Adra, Hospice nurse Loretta, Caregiver Kerri, and especially her girls Jenny, Angie, and Racheal who provided excellent care for Debbie in her time of greatest need

Arrangements have been entrusted to Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, Greenville, Ohio.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.zecharbailey.com for the Madler family.