“Her favorite thing was meeting people, talking to people and setting up decorations in the store,” Maurice said.
Madge passed away at the end of December after suffering with dementia for several years, Maurice said.
The couple met their junior year of high school in Miami County and married four years later, he said. They lived in New Jersey for a few years before moving to New Carlisle where Madge’s mother lived.
Madge worked for the city of New Carlisle as the finance director for a few years, before serving as city manager for 10 years.
“She loved her city and her shop was something she had a lot of pride in,” Madge’s granddaughter, Ceslie said.
About 2 ½ years ago, the store started opening sporadically as business declined, Maurice said. He remembered getting food and coffee in downtown New Carlisle with his wife and debating on whether or not they were going to open the store that day.
“It was her thing for 37 years and it’s just not the same without her,” Maurice said.
The Card Depot temporarily closed in early 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Ceslie said in August the family decided to reopen the store on the weekends.
“It’s with regret that it is being done, but it was really Madge’s thing and in light of the economic conditions, the virus and all that there is no use to keep it open,” Maurice said.
Ceslie recalled growing up in the store and collecting antiques with her grandmother. She told the News-Sun that her grandmother had “an eye” for antiques and enjoyed going to auctions.
“She was a collector of things and friends,” Ceslie said.
Ceslie explained that she wanted to reopen the store to “retire the store the right way” and give people a chance to remember the store for what it was.
“It’s a difficult thing to have the store without my grandma. I love it so much, but I know she’s proud of all of us,” Ceslie said.
Madge was described as a kind, hardworking and fantastic woman by her family. She loved gardening, ceramics, seashore vacations and most of all her family, her obituary said.
She is survived by her husband, two children, three grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
The family said they would like to thank the community for their support and caring thoughts.
“It’s a story you don’t want to end, but a good story always has to end,” Ceslie said.
The Card Depot will have an in-store auction in February. For more information, search for The Card Depot on Facebook.
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