Obituary of Laurie Jean Madonia

Laurie J. Madonia, Memorial Biography

Following a fulfilling life of service to others, including family, friends, students, and acquaintances, Laurie Jean Beaver Madonia, died in the comfort of her home on February 18, 2026. Born Feb 9, 1955, in Buffalo, NY to Lawrence and Sarah Muffoletto Beaver (Bevacqua), she was the third of four daughters. For much of her first two decades, a deaf great-aunt, Josephine, also lived with the family. The “Beaver Girls” learned the importance of family, respect, love, kindness, compassion, generosity, and cooperation in their home, and with extended family, characteristics that defined them for their lifetimes. They were driven to care for others. 

On November 15, 1980, Laurie married Benjamin P. Madonia III, at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church in Cheektowaga, NY less than a year and a half after having been introduced to each other by her sister Gail Philbin and Gail’s neighbor Denese Busch, the wife of Ben’s dear high school friend Jim. The newlyweds moved to Clinton, NY, where her husband began a forty-year career in the alumni and fund-raising office of Hamilton College and were blessed with three children.

Of all her accomplishments, Laurie’s deepest happiness came from being a mother to her three children, Angela, Benny, and Christine, and later “Lor Lor” to her four beloved grandchildren. She once said she always knew she wanted to be a mother, but she had no idea how becoming a grandmother would expand her heart even further.

She frequently traveled to California and Tennessee to be with her grandchildren, creating countless cherished memories playing favorite games and working through lists of fun activities she had carefully planned. With limitless energy, Lor Lor cooked meals with them, told family stories, and sang to them at bedtime, enjoying their laughter together.

A natural nurturer, Laurie, gave her love, time, and talent freely to her family and to members of her community across the generations. Friends described her as a “beacon” or a “bright light,” or “dear friend,” or “like a second mother,” or “another grandmother to my children,” truths beautifully reflected in the outpouring of letters and expressions of love she received in her final months. They thanked her for her friendship, support, empathy, wisdom, joy, warmth, and grace.  

She was known as an excellent cook of anything, with a focus on Italian meals, each dish prepared with care and love for those gathered around the table or to be delivered to a home. For Laurie, food was an expression of love, and those who had the privilege of enjoying her cooking, especially her eggplant parmigiana, felt her love in every bite. 

Laurie also gave her time to the Clinton Bicentennial Committee, Clinton Schools, and St. Mary’s Church. Her most important volunteer contributions were to the ABC program as a host family. Her ABC sons Tim Ayinla and Carlo Barbara maintained life-long relationships with her. One-on-one relationships defined Laurie. Caring for the children of others in her home, their homes, and as a teacher at St. James Day School were fulfilling opportunities that provided her with young friends, who greeted her warmly whenever their paths crossed, and adult friends, including the teachers, who bonded over teaching, “thoughtfulness and kindness.”  

Laurie demonstrated extraordinary strength and resilience during her cancer journey that began in 2003. She survived three occurrences of lung cancer, including two surgeries, allowing her to witness and celebrate life’s most meaningful milestones: her children’s graduations, weddings, the births of her four grandchildren, and countless other significant moments shared with her extended family and dear friends. 

In January of 2026, upon learning the cancer became rare, aggressive, and untreatable, she immediately expressed gratitude for the exceptional medical care she received, which translated into more than twenty years. Gratitude, love, peace, and faith marked her final weeks.

Laurie leaves her husband Ben; children Angela Grace Madonia Skinner (Wilson), Benjamin P. Madonia IV (Amanda), and Christine Mary Madonia (Michael Folger); grandchildren Noah Grace Skinner, Adrienne Sydney Madonia, Cosmo Theodor Skinner, and Campbell Anthony Madonia; sisters Tona (Thomas) Nichols and Gina Gartley; brother-in-law Timothy Philbin; father-in-law Benjamin P. Madonia, Jr.; sister-in-law Marianne F. (Dan) Lawrence; brother-in-law Michael J. (Linda) Madonia; and a number of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; mother-in-law Mary Grace Madonia; and sister Gail M. Philbin.

In a final effort to assist others and as a gesture of generosity and humility, Laurie completed an anatomical donation to Upstate Medical University. 

Please join her family at a Memorial Mass at 10 am on Saturday March 28, 2026, at St. Mary’s Church in Clinton to be followed by a reception at Commons Dining Hall at Hamilton College. Her daughters and daughter-in-law encourage festive colors, including her favorite color, purple.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests you consider a contribution to a charity of your choice or Hospice in Laurie’s honor. Arrangements by Owens Pavlot Rogers, Clinton, NY