on your interactions with her, you might remember Madeline Rice as a vodka
aficionado, a Scrabble shark, a Spartan housekeeper, and/or a selective listener (see:
hearing impaired). She was 93 years old when she passed away in the early morning
hours of November 6, 2012; born April 5, 1919. You might call her a product of the first
baby boom--the one following WWI. Her beloved mother Anna Weber came to America
and became the second wife of Wilhelm Soltau, and new mother to his 3 children. Soon
they had 6 children, including Madeline.
In 1932, her immigrant German parents needed all the help they could get. Madeline quit
school at the age of 13 to start work as a cleaning woman, during which time she
obtained the nickname "Madge," a moniker that stuck for the rest of her life. Madge
hated to leave school but she supplanted her disappointment by becoming the original
life-long learner. She could eviscerate a crossword puzzle with ease, and adored
"Jeopardy."
When William Rice returned home from service in the South Pacific in 1945, he joined
the "Young Peoples' Club," a group of variously-aged Catholics that hung around and
put on shows (think: Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney). In this group of friends, he met
Madge Soltau. Madge was one of the older young people at 26; imagine her surprise to
find out that her "Bill" was 39. The two married on February 15, 1947. Over the next few
years they had two children, at least one of whom was often (and much to her
embarrassment) blamed on "one too many mint juleps."
In the 1950s, Madge sold Avon to great success--a job she could do from home while
raising children. In the 1960s and 70s, Madge worked at Graymills Corporation as a
secretary, training and guiding scores of young men who inevitably rose through the
ranks past her, despite her decades of expertise.
In the early 1980s, Grandma obtained her GED from Stockton High School on Montrose
Avenue in Chicago. She never continued on to college, though, she claimed, because it
was too difficult for her to hear. After all, she obtained her first hearing aid at the age of
25. She proceeded, rather, as a student of life. She and Bill volunteered all over
Chicago, from Grant Park Hospital and Martha Washington Hospital to the Levy Senior
Center. Together, Bill and Madge even helped build Oz Park, a playground near Grant
Park hospital, and often volunteered with The Saints, a senior citizen organization
providing ushers for live performances. Madge also loved music, and along with Bill,
performed in local choral groups.
Madge and Bill were active parishioners at St. Benedict's, where both of their children,
Donna and Gerald finished high school, and where Donna married her husband Michael
Shehorn in 1975.
Madge is survived by her son, Gerald Rice; seven grandchildren: Elizabeth Bullock,
Megan Shehorn-Young, Katherine Shehorn (soon to be Armstrong), Gwenyth Shehorn,
Andrew Rice, Bonnie Avers, and Colleen Addington; and two great grandchildren, Lydia
and Anna Avers.
A memorial service will be held at St. Benedict's Church at the corner of Irving Park Rd.
and Leavitt St. in Chicago on Sunday, November 11th at 3:30pm. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade,
which can be accessed at the link below.
https://secure2.convio.net/avon/site/Donation/1701238034?
ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1362