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- Central Maine
March 9, 2016
PALERMO - Madeleine C. Belden Haskell, 93, passed away peacefully, following a brief illness, on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016.
Madeleine was born in Liberty on May 29, 1922, the daughter of the late Clyde and Iva (Fuller) Bachelor. She graduated from Walker High School in Liberty. In her younger years, she worked as a waitress at the elite Poland Springs House. Later during World War II, her marriage to serviceman Arthur Belden drew her away for many months to California and Kansas. When Arthur was deployed overseas, she returned to Maine where she worked at a woolen mill. Upon Arthur's safe return, they settled in Palermo and worked on the old family farm and raised three children.
Following Arthur's death in 1966, she worked as a psychiatric aide in the state hospital (AMHI). Then, politics intervened when she passed the postal service test and, as a Democrat, was one of the last political appointees before the system changed. The exciting news of her appointment of Postmaster came by way of telegram and a phone call from Senator Muskie himself.
Once she was settled into her new job, she married Merton Haskell and they lived in Palermo until his death in 2008. She served on the planning committee and budget committee. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, Palermo Historical Society, and Palermo Christian Church.
She enjoyed her garden, planting trees, and sewing. Somewhere in her busy life, she obtained her EMT license, watched her grandchildren in school and sport activities, and even went to Unity Raceway to root for her son-in-law, Steve.
On May 20, 2004, the members of the Senate and House of Representatives joined in recognizing Madeleine for her efforts in establishing the Civil War Monument in Palermo. She spent over ten years researching to identify and honor the 191 Palermo citizens who served in the Civil War.Last year during Palermo Days she received the Boston Post Gold Cane for being the oldest resident.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husbands; her brother, Edwin Bachelor; her sister-in-law, Bertha Bachelor; and her sister, Barbara Thomas.
She is survived by her sons, Gerald and his wife Linda of Newville, Pa., and Stevan and his wife Cheryl of China; her daughter Sonia Nelson and her husband Steve of Albion; her stepdaughter Sandra Campbell and her husband Albert of Farmington; her brother-in-law Maurice Thomas of Liberty; her sister-in-law Evelyn Potter of China; her grandchildren, Arthur, John, Jason and his wife Suzi, Galen and his partner Eva Breault, Brittany Belden, Rick and his wife Marcy, Rusty and his wife Cara, and Darren and his wife Amanda Nelson; her great-grandchildren, Brynna, Max and Sophie Nelson, and Evan, Logan, and Alexis Belden; and several nieces and nephews.
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1922 - 2016 (93 years)
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