Snow was falling steadily and heavily. The roads were slick and the temperatures frigid.

Alas, this description could fit way too many days so far this winter. These conditions, however, on Jan. 10, did not keep people away from the memorial service for Madeleine Mochel Pedersen, who died about a week before Christmas at age 90. The church where the service was held was packed.

This paper previously carried a very thorough obituary highlighting Pedersen’s accomplishments, listing family members and stressing her involvement in music, among other things. She was a founding member of the Downers Grove Oratorio (now Choral) Society, for example.

One of the pictures on display during the visitation portion of the event prior to the service was a picture of Pedersen with Downers Grove native and opera star Sherrill Milnes, son of oratoria society founder Thelma Roe Milnes. That picture was taken in my living room some years back. Pedersen also was an active member of the Downers Grove Music Club. She was a performer at club programs as well as a private music teacher over the years.

I last saw Pedersen at the Maple Street Chapel Holiday Sing Along. Her daughter Edith Larson brought her in a wheelchair and stationed her near the piano, which was being played by daughter Jann Mochelle. Pedersen seemed to thoroughly enjoy the event.

She would have enjoyed the service held in her honor, too. That is, her modest nature would, perhaps, have had her worrying about all of the fuss, but she would no doubt have enjoyed the company of so many friends and family members. The occasion included lovely tributes that were beautifully delivered, a slide show of her life and musical selections sung by the Chancel Choir. One very special highlight of the event was the inclusion of several recordings of Pedersen singing.

Fittingly, memorials may be sent to the Downers Grove Music Club’s Scholarship Fund being founded in her name or to the First Congregational United Church of Christ Memorial Fund.

Speaking of snow, Mochelle, Downers Grove Music Club member and private voice teacher, sings “The Snow Queen” — the nice one — on the “Holiday Treasures” CD and has performed it live in character. This involves wearing a costume — a white dress with crocheted snowflakes sewn on, a white cape with garland trim, a wand with a sparkly snowflake on the end and a tiara with a glittery snowflake front and center.

However gorgeous she looks and sounds, though, being the Snow Queen could get her in serious trouble these days. Audiences may not be receptive to someone claiming she is “the ruler of snowflakes, creator of blizzards and snowdrifts and snowbanks” who, in that role, causes “lots of snowflakes to all fall” at her command. Hmmmm.

People are probably more receptive right now to West Towns Chorus member Bill Morgan’s rendition of “A Song About Snow,” in which he talk-sings in a suitably deep, grouchy voice several verses lamenting the white stuff, including the lines, “Wouldn’t you know, when you’ve someplace to go, you can count on the roads being blocked by deep snow. Buses, planes, cars and trains all get stuck or are late, so it’s not a surprise snow is something I hate!” He concludes the song with “No, you will never hear me sing a song about snow. It is wet, white and cold, and it really gets old!”

It is, of course, snowing as I write this. And chances are, the way this winter is going, it will be snowing as you read this, too.