Jean Ellen Cording

Jean Ellen Mahony Cording, 86, passed away peacefully February 27, 2016, in Compass Regional Hospice in Centreville, MD. She was the wife of W. Lawson Cording, Sr., of Still Pond Neck, MD. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary earlier in the month. Jean was the daughter of the late John L. Mahony and the late Olive W. Mahony. She was also predeceased by a brother, John L. Mahony, Jr., and a son-in-law, Robert Kiel. She was a longtime member of Emmanuel Church, Episcopal Parish, in Chestertown. She was the loving mother of four children, Carol C. Kiel of Millington, MD; William L. Cording, Jr. (and Angela) of Still Pond Neck; Kimerly C. Balderson (and Joe) of Trappe, MD; and Mark L. Cording (and Jennifer) of Assawoman, VA. She is also survived by grandchildren, Wroth Newcomb, Rachel Hopkins (and Brad), Ivey Joe Balderson, William L. Cording, III (and Andrea), Lawson Newcomb (and Lindsay), Rose Balderson, Gunnar Cording and Ava Cording; as well as great-grandchildren, Ronan Newcomb, Eli Hopkins, Hadley Newcomb, and a fourth due in July. Jean was born in Pittsburgh and later moved to Erie, PA. She eventually moved to Ardmore in suburban Philadelphia where she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania as a dental hygienist. Jean then moved to Ocean City, NeJ, and upon her marriage moved to a farm near the Chesapeake Bay in Kent County, MD, where she spent the next 65 years. She learned to enjoy the farm life and her new environment. A few highlights were raising Chesapeake Bay retrievers, and sometimes even nursing orphaned lambs in her kitchen. A modest woman, Jean found pleasure in raising her family and later in entertaining her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jean enjoyed the opportunity to travel and see new sights. She never lost her love of the ocean and beach environment, and she enjoyed fishing, especially for flounder. Though she avoided the limelight, Jean was active in her church and community. After her four children were in school, she was certified as a Maryland dental hygienist and introduced the first school dental program for Kent County Public Schools. Jean also worked as a medical secretary, served for years as superintendent of the children's Sunday school at her church, and was an active member of the Chestertown Garden Club. Her last work venture was as a business partner of Bittersweet, an antiques and consignment shop in Chestertown. Jean also enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, gardening, and cheering on the Baltimore Orioles. It was Jean's wish to donate her body to the Johns Hopkins Medical School for research. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 12, at 3 p.m. in the Parish Hall at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Chestertown. Anyone wishing to make a charitable contribution in Jean's memory is asked to donate to The Humane Society of Kent County or the Kent County Public Library.

Jean Ellen Cording

September 4, 1929 - February 27, 2016