Irene May Ashen

Irene May Ashen of Ridgely, MD, passed away on October 5, 2023 at the home of her daughter, Patricia A. Forslind.  She was 102 years old. 

  Born in Blackwood, Wales, U.K. on June 14, 1921, Mrs. Ashen was the daughter of the late William James and Sarah Cindrey James.  After moving with her family to Herefordshire, England as a baby she remained there until she emigrated to the United States.

     In 1946, after WWII, Mrs. Ashen came to the United States with her husband as a G.I. War Bride with two children on the Queen Mary Ocean Liner filled with other wives and children of American G.I.s who were in the War. She worked for the District of Columbia government administration, retiring in June 1982. She and her husband moved to Ridgely to be with her daughter after the serious illness of her husband caused them to sell their home in Prince George’s County in November 2007. Her husband, Ronald Henry Kenneth Ashen passed away on September 21, 2013.

     In addition to her daughter, Patricia A. Forslind, Mrs. Ashen is survived by two sons: David Young (Carol) of Lewes, DE and James Ashen (Kathy) of Chester, MD. She is also survived by six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. 

     Mrs. Ashen’s memorial services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church 107 Gay St. Denton, MD on October 28, at 11:00 a.m. Interment with her husband will be private at the Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham, MD.

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