The Celebration of Leonie’s Life will be held in
Partridge House, 38 Partridge Street, Glenelg on
Friday August 7, 2026 from 1:00 p.m.,
with formalities commencing at 1:30 p.m.
Please feel free to bring a garden bloom to add to Leonie’s casket.
The ceremony will be broadcast by livestream.
Please use the link above.
A viewing is offered on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at
Siebert’s City Chapel, 49 Wakefield Street, Adelaide
from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Please note that only street parking is available at both venues.
Born 20 December 1930 in Berri, South Australia.
Passed away peacefully in Adelaide, South Australia on 8 July 2026.
Aged 95 years.
Loving mother of Tony, Simon (deceased), Marcus and Sarah,
and mother-in-law of Fiona, Suzanne and Gurdev.
Adored grandmother of Rosina, Alexander,
Atticus and Natasha, Dominic, and Simon.
Proud great grandmother of Margot, and Walter.
Dearly loved daughter of Alexander and Louie Maddern,
sister of Peggy, and Bobbi (all deceased), and
aunt of Christopher, Merridy and Steve,
and their children, Tim, Sam, and Toby.
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Leonie Maddern was an invincible enthusiast. Full of warmth, great people and organisational skills and a delight to have as a friend. Leonie established the Eastwood Friends group and welcomed me as the first Co-ordinator of the newly established Eastwood Community Centre which opened in the old Bible Christian Chapel on Glen Osmond Road. She enriched my life, generously sharing her contacts, ideas and knowledge of the district. Thank you Leonie. Diana Chessell
Dear Leonie, definitely a loved and indomitable woman. Leonie and I met volunteering with Amnesty International when she and Maree were organising several yearly fundraising events including the Annual Fete and Quiz Night. Leonie also ran the Amnesty Second-Hand Shop for several years. We met regularly over many years and years later she recruited me to audit the Humanist Society Accounts. I am unable to attend Leonie's funeral as I will be away but I will be thinking of her family. Leonie was special and I have many fond memories.
Leonie and I met on the day we began nursing training at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital in 1950. There were only 7 in our group and we shared a dormitory in a semi-underground room in the hospital - we called it the dungeon. We became firm friends as we applied ourselves to our training. Leonie was a thoughtful and competent nurse and a vivacious and loving friend. Once we became trained nurses Leonie married and went overseas for 2 years or more - how I missed her. It was a happy time when she returned and eventually moved reasonably close to me and our friendship blossomed again. Leonie faced some tragedies in her life, but weathered the difficult times with stoic patience and love. She and I often reminisced about the times at the hospital and what fun we had. She has been a true friend for over 70 years. Talented in many ways, not a birthday has passed without a flower painting and an accompanying poem too. There were also thoughtful ideas about aging and its challenges. We drove to each other’s homes to visit until we got too old, luckily our kind family members stepped in to ferry us and phone calls were plentiful. Leonie loved her garden and home, and her family did all they could to keep her there, where she wanted to be. Only recently did she need extra care which was lovingly given. I will always remember and miss her.
Such a perfect single statement to describe 'Loni', as she came to be known. An indomitable woman indeed, delightfuly eccentric, always bursting with warmth and positivity and love. Loni was never sparing when it came to calling out an errant politician or anyone whose humanity or morals she found lacking. But in the next breath she was enthusing over an artwork or musical achievement of one of her grandchildren or marvelling at a bird or some promising growth in her garden. Leonie had been a big part of my former husband, Nick Zwar's life and family through close lifelong intergenerational family friendships; and thus became part of my life too from the early 1990s. Along with all the Possinghams, she came with the package, and she was fabulous! To my mind, Loni was relentlessly herself in a way that few people are and I found her a refreshing and inspiring woman. She will be missed deeply by her much loved family and friends and even by people like me, upon whom she left an inadvertent but indelible mark. When I think of Loni, I think of the word, 'marvellous'. For Loni, it seemed, so many things were marvellous. "Isn't it marvellous?" she would say. The question - more a declaration - was emblematic of the energy and joy and positivity she could find in even the smallest things. It was infectious. She really was marvellous. Loni leaves a huge human legacy and will be missed widely and deeply. I am sorry I can't be there tomorrow. Love and hugs to all the family, Keryn xxx
Julia Butler -
Very sad to learn of Leonie’s passing and my condolences to you all. I am Ruth George’s daughter and Leonie was a cousin to my mother. I have lovely memories of times with the Maddern family at Berri and also Prescott Terrace.