Madeline F. Calella

Madeline F. Calella, age 96, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2026 at the home she shared with her daughter and son-in-law in Glenville, NY.  She was born in Gloversville, NY on October 9, 1929 to Eunice (Jona) and Thomas Guiffre.  Madeline was one of six siblings, all of whom predeceased her:  Jennie and Anna Guiffre, Anthony Guiffre, Dolores DiGiacomo, and Frances Keenan.  She is survived by her four children:  Michele Beebie (Tom), Georgiann Holm (Eric), John Calella (Grace), and JoAnn Beehler (Ed); five grandchildren:  Daniel Beebie, EJ and Joseph Holm, and Kathy and Christine Calella; two sister- in-laws:  Diana (Tom) Palmer and Phyllis Guiffre; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She met the love of her life, Joseph Calella, at a dance at Sherman Park in Caroga Lake, where dancing to the music of the big bands was a favorite pastime of hers.  They married on April 5, 1953 and continued to cut fine figures on the rug for 57 years before Joe’s passing.  They spent most of these years living on Stewart Street in Amsterdam, NY in the flat below Joe’s parents, maintaining a pristine home and raising their children.  They were great supporters of their grandchildren, attending numerous events related to activities and milestones in their lives.  Although totally devoted to each other, they also somehow managed to selflessly place their family’s needs first and pass on values of hard work and integrity to their children and grandchildren.  Both Madeline and Joe were strong in their Catholic faith and active members and volunteers at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Amsterdam.  In retirement, they were fortunate to take trips to Italy, reunion locations for Joe’s Korean War buddies, and Mt. Carmel Seniors’ trips.

Madeline loved growing up among a large extended family with constant visitors and large family meals, thus preparing her to develop into a penultimate “people person.”   Her smile of greeting to family, friends, and new acquaintances lit up the room, and Joe proudly proclaimed that she could make friends with the flowers on the wallpaper.  Her good rapport with all did not subtract from her somewhat sarcastic sense of humor, which was often punctuated with eye rolls.

Madeline loved to work, with her work history beginning at the young age of 8 or 9 at her uncle’s glove shop.  After graduating from Gloversville High School in 1947, she earned her cosmetology degree from the Austin School of Beauty Culture in Albany and worked at this profession until beginning her family.  She continued working on Saturdays at a beauty shop after her children were born and spent many a Sunday in her family home in Gloversville doing the hair of family members.  Her favorite job, however,was as a teacher’s aide at Clara S. Bacon School, where she worked for 26 years.  Upon her retirement, she was awarded a certificate of merit for “outstanding achievement using whistle control to modify student behavior.”  Although students described her as “very loud,” that did not seem to keep them from liking her.  After her retirement, her family would frequently witness past students (now adults) greeting her with fond remembrances.

Her work ethic extended to her home, which was immaculately cleaned and where she was a great cook, baker, and sewer.  Besides working, though, she loved to read, do ceramics, meet her friends out at McDonald’s for morning coffee, and take occasional jaunts to the casino on bus trips with friends to play bingo and the slots.  While living with her daughter, they became regular attendees at Thursday night Shriner’s bingo.

The true testament to a life well lived was Madeline’s frequent comment that she would not change a thing about her life, except for having Joe live longer.

Relatives and friends are invited to a calling hour on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at Church of the Immaculate Conception 400 Saratoga Road, Glenville from 9 AM to 10 AM. A mass of Christian burial will be take place at 10 AM. Burial will follow in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Amsterdam.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Amsterdam, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Glenville; Amsterdam Free Library; the Community Hospice of the Capital District; or other charities of choice.