Mollie Lee Llerena

MOLLIE LEE LLERENA Mollie Lee Llerena died on October 10, 2009. She and her husband, Edward, moved to Vero Beach permanently in 1981. In Vero Beach, Mollie was a member of the Junior League, Riomar Country Club, Vero Beach Yacht Club and former Riomar Bay Yacht Club. She was an excellent bridge player. She was born December 21, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York to Rear Admiral Robert Corwin Lee (USNA '10) and Elsie Frances Calder Lee. Mollie was graduated from Brooklyn's Packer Collegiate Institute, as were her mother and grandmother. As an early teenager she showed her beloved boxer Bella at the Westminster Kennel Club in Madison Square Garden. Years later in Washington DC, she became a Humane Society volunteer at the National Airport, where she found conditions disastrous. Her appearance before two congressional meetings contributed to improvements. Mollie Lee christened the Maritime Building at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Later, in Mexico City, she was the only woman member of the Board of the American-British Cowdray Hospital when Prince Phillip arrived to christen the new building. Mollie had a heart for charity. Mollie worked for several years on a crisis telephone hotline for troubled young women and mothers. Mollie stepped in to provide financial stability to an American nun, Sister Keller, who was trying to establish Mexico City's only girls' orphanage. Mollie's most memorable fun experience was being chosen Queen Shenandoah XVIII at Winchester, VA's Apple Blossom Festival. Banners in town read "A Lee Returns to Virginia" in recognition of her connection to Richard Henry Lee, grandfather of Robert E. Lee. At one of the balls Benny Goodman played the song "I Can't Believe Your Eyes", for which she had written the lyrics. However, when all is said and done, Mollie's greatest accomplishment was the extraordinary love and involvement with her family. They adored her and she adored them. Mollie is survived by her loving and caring husband of 64 years Edward; daughter, Nancy Kraft (Charles) of Nashville, TN; son Dr. Richard Lee Llerena (Dr. Lynette) of Englewood, FL; brother, Robert Corwin Lee (Gaye) of Springfield, MO; grandchildren: Adriane Kraft (Jay) Guerra, Travis (Stephanie) Kraft, Daphne Kraft (Brad) Bennett, Arianne Llerena and Richard Lee Llerena ; great grandchildren Kathryn, Evalise, Mia, Gianna, Edward, Rowan, Ava and two more en route. A son Ted and his wife Ellen of Vero Beach had both passed on earlier in the year. Services: 1:00 PM Saturday, October 31, 2009 at the Anglican Christ Church of VB, Majestic Theatre Plaza, 925 14th Lane. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mollie to the Humane Society of Vero Beach, PO Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961 or to Christ Church VB, the Anglican Church at 925 14th Lane, Vero Beach, FL32960. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Homes and Crematory, Vero Beach, FL.