Born Oct. 7, 1886, in New Market, Ky., Mary Esther was the daughter of William and Mary Jane Boarman Buckman. She was baptized when she was only two days old. Since there were no parochial schools in that area of Marion County, Mary Esther attended the public school at New Market. She became a public school teacher and taught in the Marion County Public School system. The school sessions were short, but in the spring Mary Esther taught “spring school” at Finley for those who could attend. “Spring school” usually lasted about two months. In addition to the regular reading, writing, and arithmetic classes, catechism was added for those who were to make First Communion. She often thought about joining a religious community. Mary Esther eventually applied to the Ursulines at Mount Saint Joseph, was accepted into the novitiate, and received the Ursuline habit on March 19, 1920. She was given the name Sister Madeline.
Sister Madeline began her apostolate of teaching at St. Anthony School in Browns Valley, Ky. After eight years there, she was called to other mission schools, all in Kentucky: Fredericktown, St. Francis and Louisville (St. Paul).
Because of rapid health decline, Sister Madeline returned to Mount Saint Joseph in October 1943. She was confined to bed in the infirmary for five months. On March 25, 1944, when her condition became critical, the chaplain anointed her. On April 2, Sister entered eternal life without a struggle, leaving this life as she had lived it ‑- simply, peacefully, with a gentle smile. Her remains were brought to the reception room where relatives, friends, and sisters kept vigil. Msgr. Gilbert Henninger, Father Anthony Higdon and Father William Borntraeger concelebrated the funeral Mass. Sister Madeline’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Jane Patrick.