Madalene Ann Cuglietta

Madalene Cuglietta, our beloved wife, mother, nana, zia and friend passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, February 9 2026.

Born August 6, 1944, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Josephine and Anthony Oliver, Madalene graduated from South High School. Shortly after, she began dating the love of her life, Joe. Though their romance sparked in adulthood, their story began as children; their families shared a deep bond that started when Madalene’s mother and Joe’s grandmother immigrated to America together on the same ship. Their love was truly destined to be. Joe and Madalene were married on August 13, 1966, and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Madalene was a devoted wife who cherished her husband above all else.

A woman of intellect and heart, Madalene earned her BA in Linguistics from the University of Utah. She began her career teaching French at Olympus High School before choosing to pour her love into her home as a full-time mother to Joseph and Natalie. Her home was a sanctuary of creativity, where she filled her children’s days with the beauty of oil painting, pottery, and the aromas of Italian cooking. She embraced every “fun mess” that came with a life well-lived.

When her children were grown, Madalene returned to the workforce at Whitmore Library. She flourished in her role in periodicals and research—a perfect fit for a woman who loved nothing more than diving into a book with a pen and a highlighter in hand. Following her retirement, she joined the Hilltop Gospel Choir, where she forged beautiful friendships and found great joy performing praise and worship music. She was also a faithful member of St. Thomas More Catholic Parish and was deeply rooted in the local Italian American community.

Madalene is survived by her husband, Joe; her children, Joseph (Satina) and Natalie (John) Brown; and her two grandsons, Ethan and Enzo. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Maria (Peter) Bsumek and their children, her beloved nieces—who affectionately called her “Zia Mama”—and many other cherished family members and friends.

To know Madalene was to adore her. She welcomed everyone through her door with “amore” and a homemade meal; food was her love language. Famous for her traditional Italian pastries and incredible homemade soups, she had a remedy for everything. Whether you had a cold or a broken heart, her pastina was the cure—and it always tasted better when she made it. Madalene’s kitchen was a haven of comfort. If you were lucky enough to sit around her kitchen island, you left feeling both very full and very loved.

She will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

The family extends their deepest appreciation to the medical staff who provided such loving care in her final days, and to Starks Funeral Parlor for their compassionate assistance.

A Celebration of Life Open House will be held Friday, March 6, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, March 7, at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 E. Creek Rd, Sandy.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 5714 Holladay Blvd, Holladay, UT 84121,  https://cloisteredlife.com/directory/salt-lake-city or Venmo @SL-Carmelites