Patricia Ann Madje

Patricia Ann (Heckler) Madje was born February 11, 1939 in Cincinnati Ohio, the daughter of the (late) Anna & Peter Heckler. Anna was a schoolteacher/principal and Peter had his own barber shop and was a home/apartment builder. When Patricia was 9 years old she was thrilled to learn she was going to have a sibling, Arlene! Patricia loved being a big sister and giving Arlene rides in her baby carriage. Patricia took tap dance lessons, adored her pet rabbit and most of all, and loved playing in the snow! When Patricia was 14, she and her family moved a few miles away to a new house her dad built on Maylee Place. She transferred to Western Hills High School. She met her future husband, Dave Madje, when she was 17. She was at her girlfriend's house and met this good looking young man who happened to have a Buick convertible. And Patricia needed to know how to drive to get her driver's license so it was instant chemistry! She graduated high school in 1957 and then attended the University of Cincinnati from 1957-58. On June 21, 1958, Patricia and Dave married and honeymooned in Miami, Florida. Over a year later, she, Dave and newborn David Jr. moved to California. The 3 of them drove across country in their 1955 Red Chevrolet convertible. It was an exciting time adapting to this new sunny part of the country. Dave got a civil engineering job with the State of California, they became homeowners and then …they expanded their family in 1965 with the arrival of a brother for David… Duane E. Madje! Patricia loved her family dearly and her activities revolved around doing things with them. In 1972, they bought a 20' Escapade motorhome. Their maiden voyage was to a family reunion with aunts and uncles and cousins in Cincinnati. They took many camping trips over the years with Grandpa Heckler and the boys. Their last motorhome, a 1994 Dynasty Diesel Pusher, took them to RV rallies all over the US and Canada where they made many new travel friends. They also spent many hours at the baseball field watching both David and Duane play baseball. Patricia and family were long time Disney Pass Members, taking their beloved grandchildren, Devan and Peyton Madje, to Disneyland during their school breaks. They went camping to Kennedy Meadows with their boys and grandchildren where the kids rode dirt bikes. Patricia gladly sacrificed having a green grassy backyard at home; instead opting for a motor cross circuit for the kids to race on. There were many holidays spent with Sister Arlene and Jerry Stamper, their daughter, Melissa, and her husband Dave Harris. Yes, there is another Dave in the family! Pat was known as the "Jello Queen" because her Jello was requested at every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinner! Peyton, Devan and Arlene & Jerry's grandchild, Lauren Harris, enjoyed the much anticipated Easter egg hunts over the years in the Madje's backyard. The three cousins zipped around Patricia's acre property seeing who could find the most Easter eggs with Shaki, the family Akita pup in tow. Patricia and Dave were avid square dancers for well over 40 years. Patricia even sewed her own square dancing outfits in the early years as a trait learned from humble beginnings. For their 55th wedding anniversary, they decided to throw a party complete with a live band and a square dance caller. They decorated their "Barn" with lights and streamers and invited over 100 people to celebrate with them. It was a memorable evening watching the two of them dancing together as well as with their family and friends. Patricia and Dave were "Cruisers"…. they took a Disney cruise with their grandkids, plus cruises to Alaska, Hawaii and Panama Canal. Patricia LOVED going on a Cruise. Up until a week before her passing she was planning on going on another cruise. She had fought off pneumonia twice in 2018 but unfortunately was diagnosed with pneumonia again just two days before her death. She went to meet her Lord on Sunday October 6, 2019. Patricia will be missed by all those that knew her. She always had time to sit and talk with you. She was genuinely interested in you and what you had to say. And she was concerned for you and yours. She loved her husband, children and grandchildren, who brought such joy and meaning to her life. It is an understatement to say "She will be dearly missed". Memorial Thomas Miller Mortuary 1118 East Sixth Street Corona, CA 92879 (951) 737-3244 | Wednesday 10/23, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm