Madeline Almira Tuckey Schroeder, born to George Tuckey and Inez Effy Thomas Tuckey, on March 4, 1947 in Baltimore, MD, and resident of South Florida and Dallas Texas, returned to her Lord and Savior on October 10, 2023.  She started as an only child but she grew to be the legendary matriarch of a huge and loving family.  Madeline Schroeder was a woman like no other.  Brilliant, athletic, beautiful, compassionate, creative, confident, and modest – she was seen by many as superhuman. Her life was truly extraordinary, and her legacy is endless and ever growing, through the progeny of her six children, and the thousands of lives she saved in her extensive career as an Intensive Care Charge Nurse.  There was nothing that Madeline Schroeder couldn't do.  When she walked into any room, she brought with her a sense of calm– it was from the incredible confidence and self-assuredness that she had.  One could never doubt that she was doing the correct thing, but more importantly she was always doing the right thing.  Even with her many gifts, Madeline was always down-to-earth.  She lived with a humility that is only ever truly shown by people with tremendous grace, integrity, and selflessness.

As a top student at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, her boundless energy was evident from the start.  It was there that she met her high school sweetheart who went on to become her loving husband of 56 years, Jim Schroeder. Lifelong Catholics and staunch Republicans, Madeline and her husband lived what they spoke, and together built what could only be described as a true American family.  Dedicated to God and Country, Madeline personified the Golden Rule; she earned the respect of everyone she met, as she treated all others with kindness and honesty.  With a heartfelt passion, she always fought for the less fortunate, underprivileged, and those without a voice.  She didn't just talk about it, she put her money where her mouth was and quietly gave extensively to charity her entire life.  This extended to animals, as she loved them too.  From taking in her stray dog Princess many years ago, to her most recent rescues Dallas and Toby, she often toyed with the idea of buying land somewhere to open an animal rescue.  In the meanwhile, she just rescued all the people and animals around her.

Outside of her family, Madeline dedicated her life to caring for others through her selfless and heartfelt nursing career.  Often called to go into Nursing Administration, or to attend Medical School, she stayed where she preferred, right by the sides of the patients she cared for.  In particular, Madeline was an unerring supporter of unborn children, speaking her mind and teaching others the importance of all of God's children, and that every life be given the opportunity to live.

In that same spirit, Madeline Schroeder truly lived life.  If there was music to hear, especially country, she was up singing and dancing.  If there was a task to be done, from making dinner to working on the house, she was equally comfortable wielding a kitchen knife or a power saw.  Seeking adventure was in her nature – Madeline was a phenomenal athlete who loved to throw around a ball, as much as she loved zip lining.  She was never the mom waiting with her purse at the end of the roller coaster; she was the mom standing in line to go on it one more time before the amusement park closed!   If there was a game to play – she was in – whether dealing the cards for pinochle, or racing someone in a wave runner, she was always up for the challenge!  In fact, she never shied away from any challenge.  She didn't pick fights, but if you came at her, her loved ones, or someone unable to defend himself, she would stand up and fight for what was right.  To all who knew her, she was a true powerhouse of a woman.

While her eyesight wasn't that great, Madeline Schroeder had a clear vision for life.  It was a life of family vacations in the mountains, homemade cookies and birthday cakes, and Christmases with so many presents that you could swim through the crumbled wrapping paper after everything was open.  It was a life of commitment and dedication, working hard and playing hard, and going to church on Sunday.  It was a life of friends and children, home and family.  Words are simply not enough to sum up this vision of life that Madeline had, but she made it happen, and she continues to live on through the world that she created.  It continues even now. In lieu of flowers, donations in Madeline's name can be made to the Big Dog Ranch Rescue.

Madeline is survived by:

Her husband of 56 years, Jim Schroeder.

Her first child, daughter Donna Schroeder Costanzo and her husband Charlie Costanzo, parents of

·      Grandson Joey Costanzo

·      Granddaughter Jenny TenEyck and her Husband Jason TenEyck, parents of

• Great granddaughter Ashlyn Rodriguez and
• Great grandson Jayce TenEyck

·      Grandson Jeffrey Costanzo and his partner Tristen Bailey, parents of

• Great grandson Linkoln Bailey-Costanzo and
• Great granddaughter Rivrlyn Bailey-Costanzo

Her second child, son Michael Schroeder and his wife Kelley Clayton Schroeder, parents of

·      Granddaughter Brooke Schroeder

·      Grandson Jake Schroeder

Her third child, son David Schroeder and his wife Julie Schell Schroeder, parents of

·      Granddaughter Samantha Schroeder

·      Grandson Noah Schroeder

·      Grandson Kyle Schroeder

Her fourth child, daughter Kimberly Schroeder Costanzo and her husband Chris Costanzo, parents of

·      Grandson Tyler Costanzo and his wife Ashley Jones Costanzo, parents of

• Great granddaughter Audrey Costanzo

·      Grandson Colby Costanzo and his wife Ashley Micensky Costanzo, parents of

• Great granddaughter Cambree Costanzo and
• Great grandson Cannon Costanzo

·      Grandson Zachary Costanzo and his partner Brittany Pichler and her son Kameron Pichler

·      Grandson Logan Costanzo and his wife Stefanie Knoll Costanzo

·      Grandson Lucas Costanzo

·      Grandson Brayden Costanzo

·      Granddaughter Skylie Costanzo

·      Granddaughter Landis Costanzo

Her fifth child, son Thomas Schroeder and his partner Brad Franks

Her sixth child, son Christopher Schroeder

And the immeasurable number of people whose lives she saved, impacted, and improved, throughout her unbelievable life.

Please share your memories of Madeline or express condolences to her family through our online guestbook.