A Legacy of Love: The 66th Annual MFA Benefit Honors Madge and the Late Bob Erlenbaugh 
by Julie Carpenter (with excerpts from Linda Buchalo’s November 2023 story)
If you’ve spent time at Misericordia, you’ve likely felt the influence of Madge and the late Bob Erlenbaugh — two extraordinary volunteers whose music, kindness, and unwavering dedication have shaped our community for more than four decades. Their lives together truly embody the spirit of the 66th Annual MFA Benefit theme - A Legacy of Love, and we are honored to celebrate Madge and remember Bob with this year’s Legacy of Love Award.
Click the link at the end of this article to view a slide show of Bob/Madge and the Heartzingers!
For new Misericordia families, or those learning about Bob and Madge for the first time, the couple began volunteering in 1983 through Candy Days for the pure love of Misericordia’s mission. Their relationship with Misericordia deepened further in the late 1980s, when their daughters Jamie and Marijo were working at a recreation camp that served Misericordia residents. Bob was teaching guitar and leading a church choir at the time and brought the group to perform at Family Fest – the first of many musical gifts he would share with our Misericordia community.
In 2002, Sister Rosemary asked Bob if he would consider playing guitar for Misericordia’s weekly Mass after a longtime singer/guitarist, Karin Walczak, passed away from an illness. Madge was studying sign language during this time for her job in special education at the Northside Learning Center. Together, Bob and Madge teamed up to lead an established group of resident singers and signers at weekly Mass. Six months later, Bob persuaded Sister Rosemary to let him organize a formal choir at Misericordia that we’ve all come to know as the Heartzingers.
With Bob leading the singers and Madge guiding the signers, the choir kept a busy schedule, sharing music at Saturday Masses, funerals, holiday brunches, Family Fest, and other community events, plus often traveled to schools and nursing homes for performances. They also organized sing-alongs for Marian Center and McGowan Home and eventually moved the weekly gatherings to the Jean Marie Ryan Center to accommodate residents from every living area.
As veritable ambassadors for Misericordia, Bob and Madge worked tirelessly to bring visibility to Misericordia while creating special performance opportunities for the Heartzingers. These include Cook County’s annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, performing with the National Irish Orchestra at Orchestra Hall, singing the National Anthem at White Sox games, and Loyola sporting events. Choir members have also enjoyed opportunities to sing with celebrity musicians, including James Taylor, Paul Simon, Eddie Vedder, Nils Lofgren, and Miguel Cervantes, through performances at the annual CURE Benefit – an organization founded by Misericordia parent Susan Axelrod to support research and treatment for Epilepsy.
Big believers in the transformative power of music, Bob and Madge have touched all corners of Misericordia’s campus, sharing music with residents at McAuley and Quinlan Terrace. Several of their first choir members now reside at Quinlan, and Bob often recalled in amazement how these residents, many experiencing dementia, would light up upon hearing the music, remembering the words and signs for the songs. Devoted to their longtime choristers, Bob and Madge have also shared music, prayers, comfort, and companionship for residents in hospice as they prepared for their journey home to God.
The Erlenbaugh’s music legacy also includes songs that have become Misericordia treasures. At Family Fest and sing-alongs, you’ll catch residents and families alike enthusiastically belting out “Misericordia Roads” – Madge’s clever adaptation of John Denver’s “Country Roads". Birthdays at Misericordia are often celebrated with a unique birthday song adopted by Bob and Madge twenty years ago, after hearing it first from a group of Sacred Heart second graders. Opening with “Have a Good, Good Day...”, the song goes on to wish the recipient both 'no bad hair' and 'no spilled milk' on their special day, accompanied by thunderous clapping. You can experience this first-hand when you book a reservation at the Greenhouse Inn on your birthday! Through spontaneous, random acts of kindness, Bob and Madge would often lead the choir in a special “Blessing Chorus” to show heartfelt gratitude or to bestow prayers for anyone going through a difficult time.
While they may be best known for their dedication to the choir, Bob and Madge’s contributions to Misericordia extend far beyond music. They quietly lent their talents wherever they were needed—from crafting and painting the signage for Family Fest to supporting residents in more personal ways. Bob, a former “Hall of Fame” volleyball coach at Loyola Academy, generously shared his expertise with Misericordia’s Special Olympics volleyball team, helping the athletes grow in skill and confidence. Together, Bob and Madge also played a vital role in keeping the Misericordia community connected during the pandemic, leading Zoom sing-alongs that lifted spirits and preserved a sense of family when it was needed most. They also cherished their friendship with Sister Rosemary and their standing Saturday “date", driving her to visit her sister Kathryn, often bringing a homemade lunch, sharing music, or simply playing cards and chatting with the two sisters.
Bob and Madge’s reputation for generosity extends far beyond their own service, creating a ripple effect that continues to benefit Misericordia. Their enthusiasm has inspired friends and relatives to step in as well: attending Mass at Misericordia, helping at Family Fest, participating in ice cream outings, and even helping secure funding for choir wardrobes. Through their warmth and example, a beautiful trickle-down of kindness has taken root—one that continues to strengthen the Misericordia family in ways both heartfelt and lasting.
The extended Erlenbaugh family is also involved at Misericordia. Their four children—Jamie, Marijo, Maggie, and Bob—and sixteen grandchildren participate in events throughout the year, from the Auto Show and Family Fest to holiday gatherings and Saturday Mass. Even Madge’s brother, affectionately known as Uncle Father Danny Boy, steps in to celebrate Mass when needed, and their grandson, Bobby Vanecko, recently joined the Social Services Department at Marian Center.
Bob’s passing in January 2025 leaves a quiet tug at the heart of Misericordia, where his music, humor, and trademark “never better” spirit are deeply missed. Yet the love he poured into the community continues to resonate—most clearly through Madge, his partner in a decades-long love story and a marriage of 58 years, whose steadfast devotion to the Heartzingers endures. Their daughter, Jamie Vanecko, now accompanies the choir on guitar at Saturday Mass, carrying forward the joyful legacy her father, alongside Madge, helped shape.
As we celebrate Madge and lovingly remember Bob at the 66th Annual MFA Benefit, we also honor the enduring spirit they helped cultivate—a spirit of welcome, generosity, and joy that will guide and uplift Misericordia for years to come.
Click here to view a slide show of Bob/Madge and the Heartzingers!