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 Mary Celeste Madden
Mary "Celeste" Madden was born on May 19, 1919, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Gertrude Elizabeth "Bessie" McHugh and James Joseph Madden. In Rye her families address remains unknown but they were members of the Church of the Resurrection. Celeste was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1937.
 Rye Girl Is Graduated from White Plains Nursing School
Miss Mary Celeste Madden, of Rye, was awarded the prize for the highest average in theory and the art of practical nursing at the graduation exercises of the White Plains School of Nursing, held at the Contemporary Club. Miss Madden graduated from the Rye High School in the class of 1937.
THE RYE CHRONICLE Friday, June 28,1940
 When World War II began, Celeste joined the US Army. She served with the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) to work as a nurse in the South Pacific.
 Army Nurse Corps (ANC) nurses in the South Pacific during WWII worked in challenging, high-stakes environments, enduring jungle conditions, strict security, and long hours to care for wounded soldiers. Stationed in areas like New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Marianas, they often lived in tents, managed diseases like malaria, and treated severe combat injuries.
While stationed at a U. S. base, Celeste met George H. Williams, who would become her husband. She returned from the war and married him on November 15, 1946, in Manhattan, New York. They would have four children during their marriage.
The couple soon moved to New York City, where her husband took a job as an administrator at New York University. Celeste went back to school, receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from New York University. Her husband, George, was a POW in WWII, Silver Star recipient and went on to become President of American University.
 Celeste had a passion for helping young people develop. In addition to raising four of her own, she "devoted her life to others' kids, spending nearly 50 years as a Girl Scouts leader", her daughter Mary Beth Barritt said.
Celeste would often take her Scouts traveling, once taking a group of them to Mexico. Her dedication would win her the Girl Scouts Lifetime Achievement Award. ''She thought it was important that young people learned about their world,'' her daughter said.
Mary Celeste Madden Williams, 85, a nurse and longtime community volunteer, died from hyperthyroidism Friday, Nov. 26, 2004 in St. Francis Hospital in Evanston.
 At the time of her death, she was survived by her sons Stephen and Kevin; another daughter, Jeannie Williams; a brother, Paul Madden; a sister, Patricia; and five grandchildren.
She was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia along side of her husband George.
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