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Archives Funeral Mass held for Deacon Frederick Mader

Oct. 31, 2018

SARANAC LAKE – A Mass of Christian Burial for Deacon Frederick J. Mader, 90, of Saranac Lake, was held MondayMader October 29, 2018 at St. Bernard’s Church, with Bishop Terry LaValley officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.

Deacon Mader died on Wednesday October 24, 2018 at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. He resided at Mercy Living Center in Tupper Lake since 2015, after living for over 14 years at Saranac Village at Will Rogers.

Born on April 6, 1928, in Saranac Lake, he was the son of Frederick J. Mader Sr. and Margaret M. (Florio) Mader.

Mr. Mader graduated from Saranac Lake Central High School in 1947. He was a veteran of the U.S. army, serving during the Korean Conflict from 1951-53. He was assigned to the Walter Reed Army Medical Service graduate school. He served as a technician in the cardio-respiratory research department.

Mr. Mader attended Potsdam State Teacher's college and Paul Smith's College, where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Hotel Management in 1956.

Upon graduation, he moved to Portland, Maine, where he met and married Elizabeth (Betty) T. Condon on June 28, 1958 at St. Dominick's Cathedral in Portland. She predeceased him on August 27, 1999.

After returning to Saranac Lake in 1961, Mr. Mader worked in the SLHS business office for several years. From 1965-71, he sold Metropolitan Life Insurance. He then worked from 1971-77 for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise in the advertising sales department. From 1978-87, Mr. Mader was employed by the NYS office of General Services at Camp Topridge in Paul Smith's. During the 1970s and 1980s, he took numerous courses and workshops at Mater Dei and North Country Community Colleges, majoring in human services with an emphasis on counseling. During this time, he also began his studies for the diaconate. On October 4th, 1980, Mr. Mader was ordained a deacon by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana, with the first deacon class in the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

He was assigned to St. Paul's in Bloomingdale. His vocation eventually led him to a prison ministry and the position of Catholic Chaplain at the FCI in Ray Brook, where he worked from 1987 until his retirement in 1998.

Deacon Mader was a member of the American Legion, Post #447, a Fourth degree member of the Bishop Gabriel Assembly Knights of Columbus and a charter member of the Father Peter A. Ward Council #7803 Knights of Columbus in Bloomingdale. He was also Vice President of Programs for the Serra Club of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, which actively promoted religious vocations for the Catholic Church. In his retirement,
Deacon Mader remained active in his vocation, continuing as a Deacon, reassigned to St. Paul's parish in Bloomingdale. He remained active in prison ministry and as a catechist, teaching third graders at St. Paul's Parish. A strong ecumenical spirit, he enjoyed volunteering his time to area churches and prisons, and for several local community organizations. He was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling, working with his plants, cooking, hiking, and swimming. His main interest was being with his family and grandchildren. Deacon Mader and his family very much appreciated the love and support he received in his later years from the staff at Will Rogers and Mercy Living Center.

He is survived by six sons, Frederick J. (Mary) Mader, III of Denver, Colorado, David (Beryl) Mader of Saranac Lake, John (Maritza Ovalles) Mader of Denver, Colorado, Paul (Deidre Yost) Mader of Saranac Lake, Robert (Elaine) Mader of Denver, Colorado, and Michael (Ruth) Mader of Saranac Lake; two sisters, Theresa Santor of Willsboro, and Frances Raville of Tupper Lake; 15 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth; a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, and a granddaughter, Catherine Therese, both of whom died before birth; and one brother William M. Mader; a sister-in-law, Gertrude (Trudy) Mader; and two brother-in-laws, Gordon Raville and Richard Santor Sr.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Bernard's School, Mercy Living Center or the Saranac Lake Voluntary Health Association in care of the funeral home.

Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.

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