Eileen Lebherz, of East 9th Street in Frederick, passed away on Wednesday, May 6, at Frederick Memorial Hospital, in the care of Hospice. She was the wife of Joseph E. Lebherz. Mrs. Lebherz was born on December 19, 1956, in South Philadelphia to Anna Marie Furlong Rafferty and the late John J. Rafferty, who died in 1982. The third of six children, Eileen lived in Allentown PA and Worcester MA until the family settled in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Eileen loved her high school years, during which she discovered her love for literature, theater, music, dance, figure skating, and the bonds of friendship. She was a drum majorette at Haddonfield High. She entered Hood College in 1974, where she earned both her Bachelor degree in English Literature and her secondary teaching certificate. She and Joe met on the steps of Coblentz Hall following his solo guitar performance at the Hood Café, which she managed. Eileen and Joe were married on May 27, 1979, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. After moves to Cleveland Heights, OH and Gloucester, NJ, Eileen and Joe settled back in Frederick. She taught English and Drama at Frederick High School, where she directed several plays. She also acted in several plays with the Fredericktown Players, and sang with the St. John's Choir. In 1990, Eileen gave birth to their first child, a son, and she made the decision to suspend her teaching career and devote herself to raising a family. Two daughters followed. She made the most of her life in Frederick, becoming active in mother's groups, reading clubs, volunteer at school, and her ring of friendships grew. She became especially close to and fond of her in-laws, and became a fixture at family gatherings. She was particularly fond of young adults, taking great interest in their lives and challenges, striking up conversations, and offering advice while withholding judgment. As one of these young adults, now grown, said of her, she was "a genuine woman: incredibly intelligent, wonderfully strong, and a kind soul." Aunt Eileen will be especially missed by her many nieces and nephews, and Miss Eileen will be greatly missed by the children of her many friends and the many friends of her three children, to whose raising and rearing she devoted her life. In addition to her husband, Eileen is survived by her son Luke (active duty, U.S. Army), daughter Emma, and daughter Jane. She is survived by her mother Anna, and by her sister Ann Marie Frazier (Howard), Maureen Mosher (Terry), Kate Robbins (Robbie, d. 2007), John Rafferty Jr. (Kim), and Mary Beth Clarke (Lewis), and their children and grandchildren. She will be missed greatly by her Lebherz in-laws Bill (Diane), Sue L. Gontarz (Paul), Chuck (Patti, d. 2010) and his fiancée Linda, J.T. (Mary), Meg L. Guncik (Alan), and Anne L. Berry (Mike) and their children and grandchildren. The family wishes to thank Dr. Brian O'Connor, Dr. Meredith Wernick, the marvelous nurses and staff at the Frederick Regional Cancer Therapy Center, the equally marvelous nurses, physicians and staff of Frederick Memorial Hospital, and the capable team at Junior Fire Company for their dedicated efforts and care during these past few years. Visiting hours will be held at Keeney & Basford Funeral Home (106 E. Church Street) this coming Monday, May 11, from 5-8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be conducted on Tuesday, May 12, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (118 E. Second St.), followed by burial at St. John's Cemetery. The family asks only that Eileen be remembered with a smile, which is how she greeted everyone she met. Online condolences may be shared at keeneybasford.com.
