Southbridge: Madeleine "Maddy" E. (Cournoyer) Cotton, 89, of Girouard Ave., passed away on January 31st in her home, after a brief illness.

She leaves her sons, Robert J. Cotton and his Life Partner, Dara King of Lubec, ME and Scott D. Cotton and his wife Karen of Southbridge; her brothers, Theodore Counoyer of Parrish, FL, Robert Counoyer of Sturbridge, and Paul Counoyer of Dudley; her sisters, Charlotte Peck of Union, CT, Claudette Biadasz of Charlton, and Suzane Gerard of Southbridge; grandchildren, Andrew Cotton, Cory Cotton, Dylan Cotton, and Robert Cotton, as well as great-grandchildren, Andrew Cotton, Jr. and Layla Cotton.

She was predeceased by her husband Robert J. Cotton in 2002, her daughter, Lynn A. Cotton in 2021, as well as her siblings, Marc Counoyer, Genevieve Gaudette, and Carmen Hebert.

Madeleine was born in Southbridge, the daughter of Theodore and Edna (Proulx) Cournoyer.

Maddy's life was defined by her devotion to others.  From a young age, she was a constant help to her parents, assisting her mother with her siblings and working alongside her father in the family store.  Following high school, she joined IBM at the AO before marrying the love of her life, Robert Cotton, on September 7, 1959.

Maddy found her true calling in motherhood.  After the birth of her daughter, Lynn, she dedicated herself to her home and her three children.  When she eventually returned to the workforce, she served as the manager of the ladies' department at The Fair in Southbridge.  While she took great pride in her career, she was known for her humility; she was far more likely to boast about the talents of her team than her own success.

An avid thrifter and yard-sale enthusiast, Maddy also loved cooking, crocheting, and puzzling.  Her greatest wealth, however, was her family.  She was a doting grandmother to four and a proud great-grandmother to two.

The Cotton family wishes to express their profound thanks to Dr. DeAngelo at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for 26 years of extraordinary care and friendship.  Dr. DeAngelo and his team truly saved her life

Funeral services for Madeleine will be private. There are no calling hours. The Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, is directing arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.