Eileen Brigid Rodden

Eileen Bridget Rodden passed peacefully on Monday, August 14th from breast cancer. Born on April 8, 1950, in Bucks County, PA to John and Therese Rodden, she enjoyed tap dancing, playing piano, and visiting Stone Harbor, NJ. She graduated from Melrose Academy in Elkins Park, PA, and continued her education at Notre Dame Academy in Staten Island, NY. She married Thomas Montgomery in 1971, taking a hiatus from her education to raise their child, Kevin Montgomery. They relocated to Port St. Lucie, FL where Eileen began her career in writing, photography, and public relations for local newspapers and magazines. After she and Tom divorced in the early 1980s, she later married Kenneth Flaum, and grew her family with two more children, Felicia and Kenny Flaum. She completed her bachelor's degree in English, graduating from Barry University in 1994. She and her family then reestablished themselves in Williamsburg, VA. Eileen would eventually find herself a single mother, raising two children while starting her own business as a Supreme Court of Virginia certified Mediator with a private practice. After caring for her ailing mother, she moved the family back to Florida, making Jacksonville her home.
She found her true voice as an advocate working at the Women's Center of Jacksonville. As the Elder Abuse Advocate and planner, she held many titles, including the U.S. Dept. of Justice Office on Violence Against Women Abuse in Later Life Project Coordinator, an elder abuse trainer with the State Attorney's office, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office representative, an Elder Source planner and lead education specialist at Hubbard House. Eileen spoke at various conferences, cultivating her passion into state legislative initiatives for elders. She was a volunteer with the Mayor's Council on Elder Affairs (COEA), sat on the advisory council for Senior Round Table, served on the Mayor's Victim Assistance Advisory Council, and was the ex-officio member of the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women. While working tirelessly for others, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. Her diagnosis kindled a new direction to channel her passion with "Bosom Buddies", a program helping women in similar situations. Always an advocate, she tended to spend many nights and weekends talking with Buds and providing words of encouragement and strength. Eileen is survived by three children, Kevin Montgomery, Felicia LeMaster, and Kenny Flaum. She also leaves behind two grandchildren, Maria Montgomery and Celeste Montgomery, as well as daughter-in-law Julia Montgomery and son-in-law Alan LeMaster, nephew Robert Snyder and wife Carol Snyder, great nephew Andrew Snyder, and sister Terri Rodden.
Eileen's earthly journey may have come to an end, but the spirit of her advocacy is everlasting. The causes she championed, the lives she touched, and the ideals she upheld will forever be a part of the tapestry of the Jacksonville community, family, and loved ones. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to The Women's Center of Jacksonville in Eileen's name: https://give.thewcj.org/give/148803/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=website. You may also choose to make a donation to a variety of Eileen's charities via the following GoFundMe link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/eileen-rodden?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch.
We will be celebrating Eileen's life on Tuesday, August 22 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207.