Madeleine Mathilda Gough was born in New York on January 29, 1924. Her mother, Grace Tierney was born in NY, the third daughter. At age 3, after her father passed, it was necessary for her working mother to send her to live with her maternal aunt's family in Quebec until age 18 when she returned to her family in NY. Madeleine lived in Manhattan with her parents and much younger brother, William. She traveled to Quebec many times, maintaining an ongoing friendship with her mother's friends and relatives there. She grew up in the theater with William, who was a child stage actor, and at the opera with her father. Madeleine loved both the theater and the opera and had season tickets until just a few years ago.

During the depression, her family moved to her paternal grandparents' home in Astoria, NY. There she attended Catholic School at St. Patrick's Cathedral. On the rare occasion that Madeleine would say she couldn't do something, her father would ask, "Did someone else do it? If someone else did, you can do it." Her mother would say, "Think about it," if she was planning to do something that her mother thought was not the best idea.

The family moved back to Manhattan, where she enjoyed the bright lights of the city. She enjoyed them so much so that she had to take a taxi to get to work on time later that same morning. Madeleine worked at John Hancock for 40 years in both New York and California. William's child acting career brought him to Los Angeles where he was joined by their mother, while Madeleine and her father continued to work in NY. She transferred to Los Angeles during WWII, to live with her mother and brother. During the war years, her mother would cook for the Service men.

Thanks to her brother's success in the movies and theater, Madeleine wined and dined with celebrities and even attended the Oscars. She also rose in the ranks at John Hancock as one of the first women of her time in that industry. Madeleine quickly became Office Director, traveling across the Western Region finding ways to improve the staff's connections and efficiency, increasing profits.

Madeleine was deeply devoted to God and attended Mass every day and helped countless Catholic charities over the years. She very heavily involved in the church where she sang in the choir and traveled with the church youth group. She was able to sing with the choir at churches in Spain and at the Vatican. Madeleine loved to travel, especially by train and has been to most of the United States and Canada. She visited William in England during his two-year movie assignment in London and was introduced to people who brought her to the palace and Westminster Abby. Madeleine deeply loved her brother, William and took care of him during a serious illness that eventually took his life.

Madeleine brought her mother with her when she moved to Laguna Woods in December of 1978. She continued her work with the church and was instrumental in building a church at the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. While in Laguna Woods, Madeleine worked as a docent at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, a candy striper at Saddleback Memorial Hospital, and started Eagle Eyes , her own proofreading business. She went house to house in S. Orange County collecting census information, worked at the Laguna Woods Box Office, performed in the Laguna Woods theater,

After retiring from John Hancock in the early 1980's, she took an interest in hypnotherapy. She was able to work with Dick Sutphen, a pioneer in modern day Hypnosis. Madeleine was certified by the American Institute of Hypnotherapy and completed a doctorate degree in Metaphysical Science through the International University of Metaphysics. Madeleine maintained a selfless commitment to her clients with hypnosis and counseling until three weeks before she crossed over.

Madeleine always held a positive attitude in life. She always said, "Don't forget the white light," when someone was leaving. When they were planning a trip, she would say, "Put the white light around the car, plane, train,"—whichever was appropriate.