Florence Lefko

Florence May Ryden Lefko, 97, of Catonsville, Maryland passed away on March 4, 2015 at Gilchrist Hospice Center, Towson, MD after suffering a hip fracture. Born on September 6, 1917 in Rochester, NY, she was the daughter of the late Jessie and Hugo Ryden. She graduated from Charlotte High School in Rochester and completed business college. She worked for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY, American Airlines in New York City, and retired after working for more than 30 years for the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, MD as an Awards Administrator.

A very loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she enjoyed many vacations with her family, including to Paris, France, New England, Canada, the Pacific Northwest, many U. S. National Parks and Caribbean islands. She also enjoyed knitting, sewing, and her pets.

Florence is survived by her daughter, Ann Louise Lefko Heslin and husband, Lawrence Heslin of New Market, MD; three grandchildren, Laura Heslin Evans and husband, Seth Evans of Catonsville, MD, Army Sergeant First Class John Heslin and fiancée, Mary Elizabeth Castor of Killeen, TX, and Sarah Heslin Small and husband, Timothy Small of Baltimore, MD, and five great-grandchildren, Aidan, Liam, and Zoe Evans and Aubrey and Joseph Small. Florence is also survived by the daughter of her former husband, Ann Marie O’Hare who showed her a great deal of love. The extended family enjoyed many holiday gatherings together with Florence at the home of Ann Marie and her husband, Timothy O’Hare.

Florence was predeceased by her sister, Lt. Col. Etta Louise Ryden (U.S. Army, Ret.) and by a granddaughter, Karyn Amanda Heslin.

A family and friends visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM on Friday, March 13, 2015 at Candle Light Funeral Home, 1835 Frederick Rd., Catonsville, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the Italian Renaissance-style former chapel of the Sulpician Fathers, Our Lady of Angels Chapel, located on the grounds of the Charlestown Retirement Community, 715 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD. Inurnment will be private at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, located in Frederick, MD.