Kathleen Lyden

Kathleen "Kathy" Lyden, was born in the Bronx, NY to William and Kathleen (McDonnell) Schroff. Kathy moved just before her senior year of high school to Daytona Beach, FL where she graduated from Seabreeze HS. She earned her RN from Mt. Sinai School of Nursing, and later her BSN from Farleigh Dickinson University. While in nursing school, Kathy met the love of her life and best friend, Michael "Mike" Lyden, whom she married in 1966. Mike and Kathy spent the next 47 years together, raising their family in New City, NY and then Fairfax Station, VA and retiring together at Heritage Hunt in Gainesville, VA. Kathy worked as a private duty nurse and later as a nurse at the Rockland County Jail. Shortly after relocating to Virginia, she became a deputized sheriff, working as a nurse at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. Kathy enjoyed spending time with her husband, family, and friends. In her childhood, Kathy cherished the time she spent with her parents, brother, Bill, and Aunt Agnes and Uncle Nick at Lindy's Lake in West Milford, NJ. As a young mother she cherished the time the family spent every February in Daytona Beach with her parents and aunt and uncle, and summers visiting locations throughout the country. She traveled the world on dozens of trips with Mike and most recently returned from a cruise around Italy and Croatia, as well as visiting her cousin Peggy in Arizona and friends in California. Kathy loved to travel and usually planned the whole trip through her own research – sometimes during her previous trip. Kathy played cards her whole life and in retirement enjoyed one of her favorite pastimes several times a week with friends new and old. She also shared a love of gardening and landscaping with her husband. She lived life to the fullest, in spite of being a three-time survivor of cancer. Kathy cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren as well as attending their many activities and sporting events. She especially enjoyed cooking with them, doing puzzles, and spending time with them at the annual family week-long get together every August, not to mention hosting the family every Christmas and many holidays. In addition to her loving husband Mike of Gainesville VA, she leaves behind many others who cherished her, including her brother Bill of Florida, many special brothers- and sisters-in-law, three sons, Michael and his wife Donna of Sparta, NJ, Tim and his partner Curtis Collins of Vienna, VA and Bill and his wife Sarah of South Riding, VA, and 8 grandchildren and one on the way, Bridget, Hannah, Erin, Dan, Tenley, Ryan, Harper, and Carson. Arrangements include two viewings on Monday, July 8 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8, at Pierce Funeral Home in Manassas, VA, and a funeral Mass on Tuesday, July 9, at 10:30, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested making a contribution to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Kathleen Lyden

March 15, 1943 - July 4, 2013