Madeline Anna Green

Sweet, thoughtful, and deeply devoted to her friends and loved ones, Madeline Green was a blessing to everyone she met.

It was during the exciting decade of the Roaring Twenties that George and Rose Marie (Eder) Steger announced the birth of Madeline Anna on October 2, 1923. Born and raised in Raway, New Jersey, she was the younger of two children, joined in her family by her older sister, Eleanor. They also had a home in Florida where they spent part of the year, and while in New Jersey she attended Clark High School.

It was while in Jacksonville that Madeline met a young man named Carl Green. They began dating, and prior to his deployment with the United States Navy during WWII Madeline and Carl were married. Once again reunited after the end of the war, the newlyweds moved to a home on Miramar, NE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Together they were blessed with the births of two children, Gary in 1949 and Deborah in 1952. They later moved to a home on O’Brien Road, NW, and they also had a cottage on Kimble Lake where they made priceless memories during the summer.

Always one to be busy, Madeline was a woman of many interests. She was an amazing seamstress who made many of her own clothes as well as her daughter’s clothes and even clothes for Deb’s Barbie dolls. Madeline also had a green thumb with a beautiful display of a variety of flowers in her garden. With a love for the arts, she enjoyed all kinds of music and poetry, and she also loved reading books on the East Coast as well as Southern Living magazine. A self proclaimed city girl turned pioneer woman, Madeline was a great cook whose specialities included her fish dinner every Sunday - a tradition that she called “Sole Sunday.”

Later in life Madeline experienced both peaks and valleys. She loved visiting with her grandchildren, often reading to them, and it was her strong family ties and unwavering faith that upheld her after Carl’s death in 2001. Madeline continued living in her home for a couple of years until Deb invited her to live with her. After 10 years of living with Deb, she recently moved to Holland Home Raybrook Manor for more care.

A faith filled, gracious, and kindhearted woman who was deeply devoted to her family, Madeline Green was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She will be forever missed.

Madeline A. Green (Steger), aged 92 of Grand Rapids, passed away at Holland Home Raybrook Manor on Tuesday afternoon, February 2, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband Carl Green, and her sister, Eleanor Dennis. She is survived by her children, Gary and Cathy Green, Deborah Rohde (Mitch Scholten); her grandchildren, Joshua Green (Meghan McGuire), Zachariah Green, Shannon Crowner, Noah Green, Judd (Lindsay) Rohde, Erica (Chris) Macomber; her great grandchildren, Lyra and Kenna, Macomber, Catherine, Lucas, Adrian and Charlize Crowner; nieces, nephews and many friends. Madeline was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and sister who will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered, The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Visiting Angels and Faith Hospice for the love and care given to Madeline and her family. A service to celebrate Madeline’s life will be celebrated on Saturday February 6, at 2:00 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, with visitation from 1:00 PM until the services begins. Burial in Rosedale Cemetery. To sign Madeline’s guest book, and to leave your own memory of her, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com