Obituary of Madelaine Marchand Rice Canham

Lynne was raised in San Francisco and remembered it as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. She watched both the Bay and Golden Gate bridges being built and saw Treasure Island rise from the bay to become the site of the Golden Gate Exposition. Tutored by her grandmother, a well known operatic contralto, she began singing at the age of six. When WWII began, she sang at the Presidio, Fort Scott, military camps and USOs and, upon moving to San Bernardino, appeared as guest soloist with the 370th Air Force Band in San Bernardino, Palm Springs and Lake Arrowhead. After moving to Los Altos in 1960, she appeared in the Foothill production of "The Sound of Music." She joined the Santa Clara Chorale, singing in Romania, Poland and Russia, and later enjoyed entertaining at local nursing and retirement residences with the Mountain View/Los Altos Community Chorus. After retiring from the Syntex Law Department in 1990, she volunteered at Los Altos City Hall for 20 years. She adored her job there and loved her coworkers, whom she often called her "other family." Lynne was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick Canham. She is survived by her children: James Rice of Henderson, TN, Cherie Hanson of North Pole, AK and Rene Canham of Benicia, CA; brother, Joseph Marchand of San Francisco, CA; sisters: Robyn Smith Astaire of Beverly Hills, CA and Sharon Monte of Portland, OR; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Lynne considered herself one of the luckiest people in the world because she loved being a housewife and mother, enjoyed her many friends and coworkers in the business world and filled her days with music. In lieu of flowers, Lynne requested that donations be sent to the Los Altos High School Music Department. You may make checks payable to Los Altos High School (Choir) and send to the attention of Sylvia Alcala at Los Altos High School, 201 Almond Ave., Los Altos, CA 94022.




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