Catharine "Babe" Leydon

Catharine M. Leydon (nee Kiely) was born in Philadelphia on December 31, 1926. Her father, Thomas J. Kiely, Sr. was a builder responsible for homes and churches built in the Olney section of Philadelphia near La Salle College. He won Philadelphia Builder of the Year in 1932, 1933 and 1934. Her mother, Kathryn V. (O'Loughlin) Kiely founded Kim Manufacturing in the early 1940s. The company continues to be in operation today. Motivated by the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, Catharine's parents sent her to board at Fontbonne Academy for Girls. She then attended Mount St Joseph Academy for Girls, graduating in 1944. She remained an active alumna throughout her lifetime. She went on to graduate from Chestnut Hill College in 1948 with degrees in Biology and English. She returned to teach briefly at the college after graduation. She also worked at Wyeth Laboratories in the 1950s. On August 21, 1954 she married James P. Leydon (deceased) at St Margaret's Parish Church in Narberth. They were happily married for 54 years. During the Korean War she volunteered with the American Red Cross as a "Grey Lady". The Grey Ladies were volunteers in the service hospitals. The program later was extended to civilian hospitals who were in need of volunteers with medical experience. Her uniform was donated to the Red Cross in 2011 and was worn as a featured uniform during a Veterans Day fundraiser attended by General Stanley A. McChrystal, US Army (Ret.) held at the Union League on November 11, 2011. After briefly living in Penn Wynne, the Jim and Kay moved to Hillside Road in Wynnewood where the family resided for 25 years. In 1989, they moved to Berwyn. Catharine was an avid golfer. The couple were lifetime members of Overbrook Golf Club joining when the club was still on the grounds now occupied by Lankanau Hospital. Catharine had a hole-in-one on the third hole at Overbrook in 1998. She has played the Old Course at St Andrew's in Scotland, and both Lahinch and Ballybunion courses in Ireland. Catherine worked as a realtor during the late 1980's through 2000, during which time she was a member of the Million Dollar Club for annual sales exceeding one million dollars. To those who knew her she is most often described as a real "lady." She was gracious and engaging and demonstrated a true interest in others. She had a gift for making people feel welcome and appreciated. She and her husband raised two children. Their daughter, Mary Kay Leydon, works for the Lincoln Financial Group and actively supports a small, no-kill animal shelter in Frazer, PA. Their son, Lt. Colonel James P. Leydon Jr., USAF (married to Teresa), currently works for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security in the Operations Division of the Response Directorate. He has three children Sr. Airman Steven Leydon, USAF (Melanie), April Leydon Berry (Tim), and Sean Leydon. Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Monday, April 15, 2013, from 8:30 to 9:50 AM (at The Donohue Funeral Home, 366 W. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA (610) 989-9600), immediately followed by her Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 AM (St. Norbert Church, 50 Leopard Road, Paoli, PA.) and interment at Calvary Cemetery (West Conshohocken). In lieu of flowers, contributions to Chestnut Hill College (9601 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118) or Mount Saint Joseph's Academy (120 W. Wissahickon Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031) are appreciated.