Hollis, NH and formerly, Holliston, MA-

Madeleine Louise (Messier) Dougherty, 84, passed away peacefully on Thursday November 29th, 2018. She was predeceased by her husband, Hubert Dougherty, by five weeks.

Madeleine was born in the house in which she was raised on Burnell Avenue in Manchester NH, to Frank and Louise (Muise) Messier.  She married Hubert Dougherty, a Saint Anslem’s graduate, in 1956 and started their family while Hugh was stationed at Cherry Point North Carolina as a US Marine.  Upon moving back to New England, their family settled in Holliston Massachusetts and grew to four young boys.

Although Madeleine wrote that her greatest “achievement” were her four wonderful sons, she achieved greatness all her own. Pursuing her lifelong interest in art, she chose fashion illustration as a career. By the mid 1970’s, she was an independent fashion illustrator. Managing her own business and accounts with Filene’s, Macy’s, and Hills department stores, her fashion illustrations appeared weekly in the Boston Globe and other local newspapers.

By the mid 1980’s, when hand-crafted fashion illustration gave way to photography-based advertising, Madeleine refocused her attention.  Always meeting a challenge with determination, Madeleine resumed her nursing education, initiated in 1955, and graduated from Mass Bay Community College to become a Registered Nurse in 1989, at 55 years old.  As a Registered Nurse, she worked nights at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, Massachusetts. Drawn to the benefits of physical fitness, she was an enthusiastic early adopter of jogging in the 1970’s.  Daily, whether rain, sunshine or snow, she met her Holliston jogging partners to run their regular 6 or 7 miles. She ran the Boston Marathon three times, and just last year placed first for her age group (80 and over), in the Hollis New Hampshire Applefest Road Race.

She was a completely self-taught and successful artist who loved the peace of natural landscapes. Whether it be the rolling hills of Vermont or the tranquil beaches of Cape Cod, Madeleine painted idyllic scenes of beauty and contentment. As a prolific artist, her pieces adorn the walls of both friends and family. Madeleine’s creations were often displayed in Cape Cod boutiques as well as juried shows throughout New England.

Madeleine leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion to family: her four sons and daughters-in-law, James of Boston, MA (Janet); Daniel of Great Falls VA (Faith); Timothy of West Chester, PA (Beth); and Christopher of Newburyport, MA (Lauren) as well as 6 grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and a sister, Corrine Bridge of Florida, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 14th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Holliston, 854 Washington St. www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church of Holliston on Saturday, December 15th at 9:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome at Rosie’s Place (for women in need) Boston, MA. rosiesplace.org