Madeleine Bicknell

Madeleine, affectionately known to her family and close friends as Bunny, has been our very dear friend and neighbour for over 43 years. She moved into her beautiful townhouse a few months after us and we immediately formed a close friendship.

Bunny was a wonderful and generous friend. Over the years we shared many enjoyable evenings, lots of wine as well as holiday dinners either just the three of us or with other friends and neighbours. She was always welcomed as part of our family wherever we went.

Madeleine felt very comfortable with Rob, and although she was fiercely independent, when she realized something that only a man could do she would always ask for his help. 

As we grew older, I was honoured when Bunny asked if I would accept the responsibility to be the Executor of her Will.

We are missing her every day. Eugene and I had a lovely visit with her just the week before she passed and I am sad those days are gone. Bunny, you were very special to the many friends who loved you.


Ah, Bellini Bunny
We will all miss her. She spent many great times with us at home, the cottage and even the 2010 Olympics. We loved her energy and independence. She inspired one of the boys to give fencing a go and was competitive at the card table with all of us. We were always happy to meet up whenever any of us were in Van and especially remember an evening at Cactus Club for the Bellini specials. Her eyes remind us of her brother Chris(grandpa). We remember them both with love.

Madeleine was a favorite client of mine and I had the pleasure of her sharp wit and sense of humor in my hairdressing chair for approximately 33yrs. She will be missed by many but was such a bright light in the world, she won't be forgotten. We will miss you Madeleine but I am sure you are frolicking with the labs somewhere in the heavens. With love ❤️ my friend.

We have had the privilege of knowing Madeleine since we both moved into the neighbourhood in 1995.

We will miss her tenacious, upbeat, independent spirit. But more importantly Madeleine was genuine,
caring, and honest. These qualities are very rare. Whether it was checking in to see if Richard was okay
because his lights were on for a long time in his garage late one night or checking in regularly with us for
over 20 years as she genuinely cared that our son (Ryan) was maturing and thriving. Madeleine
genuinely cared about her neighbours and our neighbourhood. Active listening, willing to helping out,
sharing information, and taking the time to stop and chat. She inspired us to stay active – as was
passionate about tennis, and walking no what the weather was.

We are grateful for the time we shared, the laughter, and the memories we hold onto forever.

Richard Lee

Rod, Helen, and Ryan Lee

I have known her my whole life as Aunt Bunny and was honored to bear her name, Madeleine, as my middle name. I have so many fond memories of my visits with her over the years whenever I had the occasion to come through Vancouver, which luckily was quite often. Whether she would meet me at the airport for a quick bite in between flights or meet us for dinner downtown when we were staying in the city, or taking me for one of her favorite walks when when I was in town for a couple of days, we always had a fun visit! I was fortunate to have many opportunities to spend time with her at her beloved beautiful townhouse on West 15th Avenue which feels like a second home to me. The way Aunt Bunny lived her life as a fun, active, upbeat, social and fiercely independent woman was an inspiration to me throughout my life and I will miss her dearly 💕 I know she is up there happily reunited with all those loved ones she had lost over the years and is taking every opportunity to head out for long walks with all her favorite four legged friends!

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Madeleine for over 23 years. We met at fencing and quickly became friends. We soon started going for a snack and beers after fencing with close fencing friends Jonathan and Penny Martin. This group of ‘four musketeers’ became closer over time and this expanded to traveling together to many places, including San Francisco, Spain and Italy. Madeleine’s friendship was an important part of my life and she was always quick to help or offer friendly insights. I will always remember her enthusiastic optimism and independent energetic spirit as a role model of how to live life well. She definitely had clear ideas on what was proper, including telling a waiter in Spain to take a dish back which was brought out far too quickly for her. People who are both original and honorable can be hard to find, and Madeleine was definitely both. My wife Vicki, who had the pleasure of knowing her over the past 15 years, and I will miss her wonderful spirited approach to life. She is often in our thoughts.

I first got to know Madeleine when I started working in the Department of Surgery, UBC, at VGH Site in 1984.
We were work colleagues and soon became good friends.
As an administrator and co-worker, Madeleine was highly respected and liked in the Department and very much missed when she retired. In my memory I can see Madeleine from those days, arriving at work, hanging up her Burberry raincoat and hat on the hat tree outside our offices and starting the day in her very messy office (she knew exactly where everything was though). Our offices were side by side and we were lucky to share a panorama view of the city and Northshore mountains.

Madeleine and I travelled extensively together prior to and post-retirement and I treasure the memories of our many adventures in the UK, Europe, US, Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania.

Madeleine was very athletic, she played tennis, racket ball, fenced and worked out at a gym up until the last couple of years of her life. We had wonderful times hiking together in the North Shore mountains with her friends’ black labs Mzee and Jibwa.

After she moved into Arbutus retirement home, I visited her regularly and spent many enjoyable moments together. We shared memories and laughed a lot. She was happy and content living there. It was a good place for her to live out her life.

I could go on forever writing about my “best friend” Madeleine.

In my mind I now like to think of Madeleine up there having fun with
angels.

Thank you Madeleine for your friendship and the memories – in my heart forever.

Maj-Britt Hedberg

Madeleine was a neighbour and friend for almost 15 years. She was great fun and we shared gin and tonics and chocolate with equal gusto. I helped her with her little garden and we had great fun picking out annual selections for her containers, usually in yellow, her favourite colour. Madeleine was feisty and strong willed and enjoyed her walks around the ‘hood’ even when she had Covid! We will miss her kindness, her sense of humour and the love she showed for her family, friends and canine companions. Rest in Peace Madeleine.

Madeleine was our neighbour who was always good fun. We had one neighbour who was a 'heroin dealer' creating an uneasy feeling, plus break-ins in our homes, also traffic stopping by his house at all hours to pick up drugs, especially around Expo '86 time. In the end we started a neighbourhood watch until he was arrested. Madeleine didn't hesitate to help. Frank referred to her as "Jolly Hockey Stick" and she just laughed. We shall all miss her, and keep her in our thoughts & prayers.