Madelaine Ferguson. (Courtesy photo)
Madelaine Pagé Ferguson died peacefully on April 27, 2026, following a brief illness at the age of 91.
Madelaine was born in Wrightville, Québec, Canada, on April 1, 1935, a daughter of Célina Gravel Pagé and Albert Pagé. She grew up in Ottawa, Ontario until moving to the United States after her marriage to Brinton Ferguson in 1958. They lived in Arlington and Acton before settling in Harvard in 1964, where she resided until her death.
She found her greatest joy in her family, her beautiful gardens, and volunteering her time helping others in need, especially elderly people. Springtime, her gardens came alive; she spent countless hours tending to her wide variety of plants, shrubs, and trees, as well as taking in the spring splendor at the New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston. She was a member of the New England Hosta Society, Garden Club of Harvard, and Harvard Historical Society.
In addition, Madelaine enjoyed collecting Shaker-inspired antique furniture and playing bridge with her friends at the COA. She was a devout parishioner of Saint Theresa Catholic Church (now Holy Trinity Catholic Parish) in Harvard and Saint Benedict Center in Still River. She loved cats and had many during most of her life, her most memorable cat being Minou, a large Maine coon cat. Many vacations were spent with the family in Chatham on Cape Cod going to the beaches, lighthouse, and the band concerts in town. In her retirement, she enjoyed winter trips to Jekyll Island in Georgia, and in the fall she often vacationed in eastern Canada or took the train through Canada to the Pacific Northwest. She worked at Harvard Observatory in Cambridge and Digital Equipment Corporation in Stow and Maynard.
Madelaine was in great physical health, walking up to 2 miles a day and working in her beloved gardens right up to her death. She is survived by her husband, Brinton Ferguson, with whom she shared nearly 68 years of marriage. She was the loving mother of three sons: Edward B. of Seattle, JC (Debra) of Harvard, and Douglas P. (Leslie) of Ayer. She also leaves her two grandchildren, Carlisle (Jacob) Tutlis of Concord, and Marley Ferguson of New York City; and a great-granddaughter, Zoë.
The family wishes to thank the Harvard EMS, the staff at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Clinton and Worcester, and all of the support staff at Sterling Village and Autumn Hospice for their outstanding care and compassion.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated June 20, 11 a.m., at St. Theresa Church, 17 Still River Road, Harvard. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston.