Lois J. Hutchen

Lois J. Hutchen, Retired Social Worker passed away March 04 2009 Lois (Johnson) Hutchen, 83, a resident of Ossining and a retired social worker, died Wednesday at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York, after a brief illness. A long-time resident of Gary, Indiana, Mrs. Hutchen worked as a social worker for the City of Chicago, the City of Gary, Planned Parenthood, and the Gary Community Schools Corporation, from which she retired. Born Lois Peggy Johnson in Atlantic City, she was the daughter of Walter Irvin Johnson and Helen (Lee) Johnson. Mrs. Hutchen graduated from Atlantic City High School and Howard University and, following college, attended The University of Chicago School of Social Work for graduate studies. She later received a Masters in Social Work from the University of Illinois, Chicago, at age 61, having returned to school after raising her family. She was a long-time member of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Gary, Indiana where she served on the vestry and altar guild. She was an accomplished cook and enjoyed drawing and painting, but above all was devoted to her children: Eric Eugene Hutchen, who predeceased her in 1988; Kim Howard, of Ossining, NY; and Todd Louis Hutchen, of Katonah, NY. She was married for 20 years to Eugene Hutchen of Gary. In addition to her children and ex-husband, Mrs. Hutchen is survived by her brother, Walter Irvin Johnson II, of Teaneck, NJ; grandchildren Kathryn and Gregory Howard of Ossining, NY; her nieces and nephews Keith Harris of Philadelphia, PA, Helen Johnson of Salem, NJ, Deborah Lorraine Johnson of Englewood, NJ, and Walter Irvin Johnson III and Felicia Johnson of Middletown, NY; sister-in-law Ethyl Johnson of Salem, NJ: daughter-in-law Christine Harrington of Katonah, NY; and several grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. Funeral Services were held on Saturday March 7, 2009 at 12:00 noon at St. Paul's on the Hill Episcopal Church in Ossining. The interment will be private. Funeral arrangements were handled by Dorsey Funeral Home in Ossining. Donations in lieu of flowers to be made to Ossining Food Pantry, PO Box 869,Ossining, NY 10562 or St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, 2425 W. 19th Ave., Gary, IN. 46404 Dorsey Funeral Home, Inc. 14 Emwilton Pl., Ossining 914-941-0167 www.dorseyfuneral.com