Madeline (Cauley) Valdez, age 60, died peacefully in her home in Raisin Township, MI, with her two daughters, Isabel and Marissa, next to her after a long, four year fight with brain cancer. Madeline was born on October 22nd, 1964, in Ypsilanti, MI, the daughter of Robert and Viola Cauley. She graduated from Onsted High School as the President of Future Homemakers of America (FHA). Association in 1982. She graduated from the Corrections Academy at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in 2011. In 1983, she married the love of her life, Antonio (Tony) Valdez. For over two decades, Madeline joyfully served as a catechist at Saint Mary’s in Adrian. She has a gift for making the Catholic faith come alive for children, working hard to bring creativity and warmth to every lesson. Throughout her life, she embraced hard work with determination and heart. She was the manager of the Brooklyn and Tecumseh laundromat, a stay at home mom, a caregiver to her parents, and she started her own cleaning business (Valdez Cleaning Service). She also worked at Kapnick Orchards, in which she continued to work part time, when she moved on to work in the bakery department at Country Market. She helped organize food donations from Country Market to different food pantries in Lenawee County, often delivering the boxes of bakery foods and other foods in her spare time. Madeline eventually joined the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department as an Intake Officer and later as a Corrections Officer. Madeline recognized the good and the need for love that some inmates had, and therefore, wanted to help bring out the best version of themselves. Her motherly skills assisted her greatly in connecting with inmates by providing supportive love, discipline, warnings, and playing small harmless jokes similar to what she would do to her children. Madeline had spent many of her years volunteering at various organizations, especially at food pantries, churches, and schools. Her innovative and adaptive skills allowed her to thrive in every job and task she took on. The need for adventure pushed Madeline to bring excitement to every activity. She loved biking and would often leave fellow riders with a laugh and dust in their face. Camping was an important family tradition and hobby, she loved taking the camper up north to all the different state parks. She also loved kayaking, and had a spare for anyone who wanted to join her. She was notorious for her spontaneous trips and tricks that brought life to every moment with Madeline. She would say “let’s get out of the house today,” and end up taking an adventure filled with stories that could be told for days. Her harmless tricks were just as rewarding fun as her trips. She would include anyone and everyone in her life, even if it meant joking with a stranger in a grocery store or someone shy at a gathering. Her spirited attitude and the glow in her smile brought the fun to every party. Her greatest treasures in life were her children. When asked what her favorite part of having children was, she would say, “being with them.” She was the mom who would do anything to take care of her children, even at the expense of her sleep. She would drive hours to anywhere if any of her children needed her. Even during her four year fight against cancer and with continuous loss of memory, she did her motherly duties by worrying, comforting, sassing, making jokes, and bringing joy to her children. Madeline is survived by her six children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and numerous other family and friends who love her. Her surviving children include Ricardo (Belem) Valdez, Sam (Sandy) Valdez, David (Bree) Valdez, Raquel (Keaton) Valdez, Marissa Valdez, Isabel (Andrew) Schneider, and daughter-in-law Irene (Scott) Valdez. Madeline loved all of God’s children and cared for many as if they were her own, no matter their age or their background. Madeline is also survived by her siblings Diane (Danny) Bragg, Mathew (Lisa) Cauley, Elizabeth (Ted) Bergeron, Frederick (Kim) Cauley, Michele (Steve) Schaller, Ernie Cauley, and sister-in-law Vicki Cauley. She was preceded in death by her husband Tony Valdez, her step-son Steve Valdez, her brother Earl Cauley, her brother-in-law Mike Wehr, and her parents. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Holy Family Parish, Saint Mary’s Campus, 305 Division St., Adrian, MI, with Father Tom Helfrich presiding. The Rite of Committal will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Thursday, May 1, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Purse Funeral Home, 2959 N. Adrian Highway, Adrian, with a Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. There will also be visitation at the church on Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Go to PurseFuneralHome.com for more information on Madeline’s wonderful life. In honor of Madeline Valdez’s memory, you are welcome to send flowers to Purse Funeral Home in Adrian, MI. Likewise, donations of food or services to your local food pantry in Madeline’s memory are also welcome.
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