It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Madeleine Cormier-Brzezinski, age 71. She passed away at May Court Hospice in Ottawa on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, after a courageous battle against cancer.
She had the soul of an artist and expressed her talents in many ways. Known in Ottawa as the owner of Chapeaux de Madeleine, she was a hatmaker to the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Governor General of Canada and their entourage, many diplomats, brides and brides’ mothers. Her fedoras graced the heads of gentlemen, ladies and musicians.
She discovered her voice as a jazz singer and recorded with her musical group.
She was predeceased by her husband, Allan Brzezinski, and by her parents, Juliette Aubut and Joseph Cormier. She leaves behind her sisters Michelle (Alain Berthiaume), Suzanne (Jean Trudel), her niece Sophie Trudel (François Vaillancourt), many cousins and friends, as well as Frank Sukhoo, her business partner.
The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the palliative care team who gave her dignity to the end.
A celebration of her life will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025 at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services (at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre), located at 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa. The family will receive condolences from 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the May Court Hospice in Ottawa would be greatly appreciated.
Digital Guestbook
Kekine Shaben
Brigitte Picard
I love you Madelaine. I will miss you.
Mario Malette
It is with a heavy heart that i have heard about Madeleine s passing.
Music was the reason that I met Madeleine and I can t believe still that she is gone.
We will be missing you.
RIP my friend.
Margaret Dickenson
What a shock to see that this talented, beautiful and gracious woman has passed away. My deepest sympathy goes out to family and friends.
Gilles N Picard
Mado was like a sister. This was hard to take.
Carol O’Dea
My dear Suzanne and Michelle,
I was so sad and heartbroken to hear that Madeleine had passed. What a beautiful and joyful soul she was!! I will never forget how she would call my mom during her final days. No matter what they were talking about, Madeleine would always manage to uplift her spirits and elicit a full-hearted laugh from deep within Mom. I will always be grateful for those moments. When Ginette told me that the service would be December 19, I had already scheduled recurrent training in DFW for that day and was unable to change it. I wish that I would have been able to attend, but I appreciate having the ability to stream the service. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and all of your family at this sad time.
Suzanne Gaudreau
Mes plus sincères sympathies à toute la famille de Mado. Une bien triste nouvelle et très difficile a surmonter. Je n'oublierai jamais les bons moments passés en sa compagnie. Mado était comme un rayon de soleil. Nous sommes partis d'Edmundston ensemble pour venir étudier chez Richard Robinson. Jamais je n'oublierai ces moments précieux . La peine ne se décrit pas, mais ce qui me réconforte très souvent est d'entendre son rire contagieux dans mon coeur! Reposes en Paix ma chère Mado!
Michelle et André
Sommes de tout coeur avec vous. Serons avec vous virtuellement demain.
Angie
Madeleine, you have always been a precious, energizing, and joyous light in so many lives, may you rest in grace.
May we all find comfort in the memories we share and the love of those around us
Huot real
A toi Michelle et toute ta famille mes plus sincères condoléances
Madeleine was a shining star who twinkled from afar, who's light we could see all the way in Vancouver. Suzanne et Michelle, je vous envoie un gros calin, et je vous tiens dans mon coeur.