1931-2025

July 15, 2025 Madeline 'Matsy' Podruchny McDonald, aged 94 years, passed peacefully at her home in the Hiram Community east ofTerrell, Texas. Madeline’s eldest son was beside her; other family members were traveling. She retained her mental faculties until the end. The family is comforted believing that she went to a good reward. For the Christian, how wonderful must be the instant after death. The Christian is freed from sin and its attendant sorrows, and instantly admitted to join the heavenly choir.

Madeline was born January 13, 1931 in Baltimore, Maryland to Joseph Thomas Podruchny and Marie Martha Freitag. Soon after birth, the then family of three moved to the Bower’s Hill area in what is now Chesapeake, Virginia. Five siblings would follow. At the front of their home, the family operated a small store on West Military Highway, selling gasoline and other items. Cabins were built and rented to travelers at the price of $1 (yes, that is one dollar) a night. The family was self-sufficient as to food needs: regularly purchasing only coffee, tea, sugar, and flour. 400 quart jars of vegetables were preserved each summer. Hogs and chickens were raised for personal consumption. A smoke house was constructed to process meats. There was a cow for milk and a yearly calf. Throughout her life Madeline loved fresh foods and provided much advice for family vegetable gardens.

Madeline attended grades 1 through 7 at the nearby two classroom Sunray Elementary School; all seven years, every day began with a teacher reading Psalm 23 and the Lord’s Prayer. From Sunray, Madeline went to Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia; she graduated in 1948.

Madeline met Douglas Earl McDonald in Virginia Beach, Virginia on July 4, 1950. They were married October 1, 1950 in Elizabeth City, NC. Douglas was in the army. In 1957, after two years in Germany, the family relocated to Douglas’ home town of Terrell, Texas. The family lived within the Terrell city limits until January 1969, moving to the Hiram community east of Terrell where Madeline lived the rest of her life. She and her husband ran several businesses, the last of which were a truck stop and a café.

Madeline was a member and a regular attendee of the Baptist church. Madeline was a wise financial steward, stretching limited financial resources in the early years. She was an excellent seamstress and made clothes for her children until becoming more involved in her husband’s business ventures. She was an excellent cook and collected cookbooks. She was self taught in homeopathic practice and healthy eating.

Madeline is survived by her sister Virginia Felker; her children Douglas, David (Marcy), Angela (Jon), and Deborah (Rod); 6 grandchildren; and 13 greatgrandchildren. Madeline was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Marie Podruchny; her husband; her siblings: Viola Vause, Joseph, Robert, and Doris Messex; daughter Ginger Mae; and her grandson Christopher McDonald.

A funeral service was at 1:30 PM, Friday, July 25, 2025 at Max Slayton Funeral & Cremations. The family received friends from 12:30 PM to service time. Interment followed at the College Mound Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Madeline’s two sons and her four grandsons. Afterward friends were invited to join the family in the College Mound Methodist Fellowship Hall. Food was provided.

Memorials may be given to the College Mound Cemetery Association: mail checks payable to ‘CMCA’ to PO Box 105, Terrell, TX 75160.