Madeline Metrick

Madeline passed away in Brockton, MA on October 26, 2026, at the age of 84. Madeline died peacefully surrounded by her son Joe, sister Eileen, niece Kerri and nephew Jimmy by her side. She was warmly covered in a blanket of her favorite color red, and the scent of her signature Shalimar perfume in the air.

Madeline, most recently a resident of Whitman, MA, was born and raised in the greater Boston area. She lived almost half of her life as a resident of Rochester, NH.

My mother Madeline, back in the days of the daily paper, always made a point to highlight and read me the funny, self-deprecating or witty obituaries of the day. We laughed at some of the unusual requests or snarky comments made by the families (or the deceased themselves). I always joked that someday I would write one for her and she, in her usual manner, made a face and thought I was joking. I was not. This is for you Mom.

In many ways my mother was an innocent soul. It is only as an adult that I have come to realize how selfless she had been with her own life. She always put others’ needs before her own. Always looking to her big Sister Eileen as her North Star.

Looking back, raising me she was a stay-at-home mother. On a fixed income she ensured that I went to a private Catholic elementary school and never went without. Many years later I’ve come to realize that the many hours she volunteered as a teacher’s assistant or at the weekly bingo games was in part to help pay the tuition that we could not otherwise afford.

Mom was a hard worker, working two jobs to support us. She found her calling working as a Certified Teachers Aid at Strafford County Headstart. She loved children and was considered extended family by many. Also, behind the butcher shop counter at Hannaford, she enjoyed the friendships she had with her customers and coworkers, her second job of over 25 years.

Madeline was shy and reserved at first, but she could light up a room. She had a wide-open smile and a twinkle in her blue eyes that never faded. Never one to think that was deserving, she was in fact, was the most deserved and resilient woman I knew. Over the years she overcame the sudden loss of her husband, leaving her a single parent of a teenager. A forced retirement due to COVID and then loss of her home of over 35 years to fire. She started her final chapter in life with very little, never complained, never felt sorry for herself, or asked anyone for help.

As if there was some master parenting plan, she always felt that her copy must have been lost in the mail. She once called me to say that she wished she had made different decisions or that things had turned out differently. As I said then to her then, and as I want the world to know now; I owe everything I’ve achieved in my life to her. Mom was a wonderful soul who always did what she thought was best and did it heart first in love, and intense generalized anxiety.

Madeline was predeceased by her husband Stephen, parents Raymond and Florence (Crawley) Spring. Siblings Raymond Jr. and Ellen Spring and nephew Kevin McCormick. She is survived by her only son, Joseph Metrick, Sister Eileen McCormick, Nieces; Eileen Koyon, Kerri Anderson and Michelle Diaz. Nephews Jimmy McCormick and Matthew Spring, along with their partners, spouses, children and grandchildren. Also, her adopted son William Witt, former brother-in-law, James McCormick and many lifelong friends.

There will be no formal services, she will be interred privately at Blue Hill Cemetery close to her parents and family.

An informal meal for family and friends to be planned in the spring at our family’s favorite restaurant, Kitty’s in No. Reading, MA. We will remissness over her beloved meatball pharm and order the traditional brownie Sunday for the table with twelves spoons.

To borrow from her favorite obituary; “in lieu of flowers, please send my children money. I want them to live the life that I believe they should become accused to”. Of course, Madeline would only be pleased if all bills were sorted by denomination and serial number.

We all love you, Mom; I love you, Mom.