Obituary of Audrey Madeline Hogan

AUDREY MADELINE HOGAN Mother - Friend - Aerospace Purchasing Manager Herndon, VA Audrey Madeline Hogan, 78, a long-time resident of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area died on February 14th at Reston Hospital Center with her four sons and other family in attendance. Ms. Hogan was born January 9, 1934 in Hoboken, New Jersey, the only daughter of Raymond and Theresa Walsh. She grew up with her two brothers in New Jersey, graduating from St. Cecilia High School (Englewood, NJ) and earning her associates degree in Business Administration from Penn Hall Junior College (Chambersburg, PA) in 1953. She worked as a legal secretary in New Jersey and Washington, DC. She was married to George Hogan from 1955 to 1982, and moved to the D.C. area in 1955. Ms. Hogan was a devoted stay-at-home mother while raising four active sons. She re-entered the workforce in 1972 as a secretary-receptionist for a law firm, growing her career to become the Supply Officer for CTA Space Systems, responsible for all purchasing-related matters for the satellite manufacturer. She retired in 1998 and moved to Annapolis, MD where she was very active in the Anne Arundel Community College Guild for L.I.F.E. serving one year as president. She highly valued the opportunity to engage in continued learning to broaden her knowledge. Ms. Hogan also enjoyed spending time with her many friends and family, loved to attend theater, concerts and travel. She was a generous supporter of many charitable organizations and had a warm spot in her heart for the Chesapeake Bay, engaging in periodic outings on her son Rick's sailboat. An amazing mother and devoted friend, Audrey Hogan will be missed by all who knew her. Audrey took great pride in her sons and their accomplishments and no matter her own challenges never stopped caring and worrying about them. Having grown up with two brothers and being blessed with four sons, Audrey took great delight in the women who joined the family, first through marriages of her sons and then as her grandchildren. Valerie, Cathy, Robin and Sue instantly became part of the family and she quickly established rich relationships with each. She was looking forward to the impending nuptials of her grandson Philip to Alicia Newman this Spring. There was a special pace in her heart for her two granddaughters Alison and Gwendolyn to whom she provided inspiration and guidance. She battled the chronic condition scleroderma for many years, demonstrating bravery, stoicism and determination. Although the disease finally got the upper hand, she never let it define her. Ms. Hogan is survived by four sons David (Valerie), James (Cathy), Robert, and Richard (Robin), three grandchildren, Philip, Alison and Gwendolyn, and two brothers Mickey and Robert Walsh. She is predeceased by her parents Raymond and Teresa Walsh and daughter in law Susan (Robert). Visitation (1 p.m.) and memorial service (2 p.m.) will be on February 18, 2012, at the Adams-Green Funeral Home, Herndon, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center www.hopkinsscleroderma.org/center/donate