Jenevieve Crofoot-Hess
Pimlico resident
Jenevieve Crofoot-Hess, a longtime resident of Pimlico and member of the Order of the Eastern Star for more than 65 years, died Friday of heart failure at the Maryland Masonic Home in Cockeysville. She was 92.
She joined the order in 1925 and was part of a fund-raising effort in the late 1920s to build the Masonic home, also known as Bonnie Blink. Construction on the Tudor-style buildings began in 1931 and the first guests were received in 1934.
Illness forced her to move to the retirement community's health care facility last year.
Earlier, Mrs. Crofoot-Hess lived with her daughter, Marie L. Disney of Randallstown, for 10 years.
"Although she was never an officer, she was always a hard-working sideliner. She worked on committees and helped cook and serve many [Masonic-sponsored] suppers," Mrs. Disney said.
Mrs. Crofoot-Hess recruited her daughter, and "was extremely proud when I became Worthy Matron of Chapter 101 in 1993," Mrs. Disney said.
Born and educated in Baltimore, the former Jenevieve Plassil worked with her parents and brother in a family-owned grocery store on Pennsylvania Avenue as a teen-ager.
In 1919, she married Frederick A. Hess. He died of pneumonia in 1921. Three years later, she and Joseph Higdon were married. Mr. Higdon died in 1931.
In 1933, she married Oden B. Crofoot, a former postal carrier who had retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland. Mr. Crofoot died in 1962.
Mrs. Crofoot-Hess enjoyed playing cards and bowling. She also liked to travel and had vacationed in England and Hawaii.
She was a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church,
Services were to be held at 10 a.m. today at the Mitchell-Weidefeld Home, 6500 York Road.
In addition to her daughter, she is survived by two grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
Donations may be made to St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 2119 Gywnn Oak Ave., Baltimore 21207; or to the Shepherd's Transportation Fund of Boumi Temple, 4900 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21210.
Donna Welch May
College official, teacher
Donna Welch May, a college official and former teacher, died Tuesday of a heart attack at North Arundel Hospital. The Severna Park resident was 47.
For the past four years, she was director of the applied technology and apprenticeship program at Catonsville Community College. Earlier, she had been a staff member at Anne Arundel Community College and a teacher at St. John the Evangelist School in Severna Park.
She was a member of the Association of Purchasing and Inventory Control Society and the Printing Industries of Maryland.
A memorial service was conducted Saturday in Severna Park.
She is survived by her husband, Lee J. May, and a daughter, Sara, both of Severna Park; her mother, Edna Welch, and a sister, Mary Spell, both of Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Memorial donations may be made to the Catonsville Foundation, c/o Catonsville Community College, 800 S. Rolling Road, Catonsville 21228.
Elizabeth K. Cronin
Homemaker
Elizabeth Keating Cronin, a homemaker and mother, died of an undetermined cause Friday at St. Joseph's Hospital in Towson. She was 77.
"She devoted her life to raising her children and her grandchildren," said her husband of 51 years, Donald Cronin of Towson. "She was a great mother and grandmother."
Mr. and Mrs. Cronin were married in 1943 and reared four children.
Mrs. Cronin was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Towson.
A Mass of Christian burial was to be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the church at Baltimore and Ware avenues.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Cronin is survived by two daughters, Christine C. Manning and Elizabeth C. Dippenworth; two sons, Michael F. Cronin and Raymond C. Cronin, and 10 grandchildren, all of Towson.
Memorial contributions can be made to the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation, Suite 208, 7501 Osler Drive, Towson 21204.