Mrs. Madeline Carole Cushman

On Saturday, August 4, Madeline Cushman Johnson passed away at age 78 at Summit Place Senior Center in Eden Prairie, MN. Madeline was born in Boston, MA, one of four children, to Rose and Thomas Smigliani. She grew up surrounded by extended family in a house that was always filled with kids, laughter and pasta. Madeline attended Simmons College with the intention of becoming a nurse. A chance meeting at a dance with a handsome and determined student from Dartmouth changed those plans. John Cushman proposed to Madeline on their second date, she said yes, transferred to Boston University, got her teaching certificate, got married, moved to Idaho, had two daughters and helped put John through law school. And their house was filled with kids, laughter and pasta. John and Madeline moved to Minnesota, where John got a job at the attorney general’s office, eventually becoming General Counsel of Target. Madeline kept teaching, they added to their family, raising four daughters in Bloomington, MN. And their house was filled with more kids, laughter and pasta. John passed away unexpectedly at age 53 and for several years, Madeline lived alone. But life gave Madeline a second chance at love when she met Lehan Johnson. They married in 2004. The pair loved to travel, to spend time with their children and grandchildren and once again, Madeline had a home filled with kids, laughter and pasta. Madeline never stopped teaching and learning…she was a docent at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, an avid museum and theater patron and a volunteer at local schools. She loved to sing, to dance, to draw and to have fun. She was a voracious hugger, vivacious optimist and she filled the room with energy. She was beloved. Madeline leaves behind her husband Lehan, her daughters Angela (Bill) Dallman, Kate (Jack) Boyer, Nicole Bey and Carolyn (Terrence) Payne, as well as Lehan’s children Karri (Paul) Engstrom and Chris Johnson. She’s also survived by her sisters Georgine, AnneMarie, brother Thomas and cousin Dominic…as well as a large extended family on the east coast. To her many grandchildren and step grandchildren, she was simply “Nonna” and Maddie, Margaux, Will, Gianna, Nolan, Miles, Kaitlyn, Emily and Meghan will miss laughing with her. There will be a celebration of life at Washburn McReavy Edina Funeral Chapel 5000 West 50th Street, Edina, MN on Saturday, August 11AM with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment Dawn Valley Cemetery. Donations to the Alzheimer’s association in lieu of flowers would be appreciated. Filling your lives with love, laughter and pasta would be recommended.

Tributes

Mrs. Madeline Carole Cushman

July 22, 1940 - August 4, 2018

Tributes

Mrs. Madeline Carole Cushman

July 22, 1940 - August 4, 2018

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203