The Life of Kathryn Tennyson Clyde
Kathryn “Kassy” Tennyson Clyde, 90, passed away at home May 4th 2022.
Born November 5th 1931 to Molly {Flink}Tennyson and Earl Ed Tennyson in Phila., Kass was a loving sister to Lyn ”Sissy” {Tennyson} Spector, and the late Ed Tennyson. She attended her senior year at John Bartram after moving from Olney High School where she met her High School sweetheart, our father, the late John David Clyde Jr. They married Dec. 6th 1952 at St. James Episcopal Church in Kingsessing and moved to Drexel Hill, where she resided for over 60 years. In her early years Mom worked for the Atlantic Employees Federal Credit Union as a loan officer, Gimbels and John Wanamaker’s in Phila., where she still talked about being in the Christmas Parades.
Mom was very involved in her community; she always stood up for what she believed in. She participated in Young Republicans, Upper Darby Shade Tree Commission, Delco Road Commission, Upper Darby School District, Order of the Eastern Star, Lansdowne Chapter, Delaware County Child Care Services, and for years stood as a poll worker on Drexel Avenue. Mom was also known as Mary Poppins to the children of the Aronimink Elementary School, in the mid 70’s, where she “flew” in to surprise and teach them about bicentennial herbs, art and literature. Mom’s greatest gift of her life was the adoption of her children in 1966 and 1968, Christopher Clyde and Victoria Tennyson Clyde. They were her entire world. She spent much time driving them to school, horseback riding classes, music lessons, and art classes. She so enjoyed attending Chris’ horse shows; traveling to Alaska to spend time with Victoria over the past 20 years, as she called it “her second home.” and known as Mamma Clyde by her Alaskan friends. Her passions in life were traveling, her ‘57 Vauxhall Victor, gardening, drawing, baking, (especially cookies), poetry, local politics (back in the day), Scotland and her love and devotion to animals.
The most important passion was always her children and furry 4-legged grandchildren, most recently, Indiana Jones, as she called him IndyLoo. Mom was truly a beautiful woman, in her younger years she modeled for Gimbels of Philadelphia, milled her own hats and designed her own wedding gown. Mom enjoyed helping others, by creating flowers arrangements, cake decorating, or her many positions in department store. You could find mom at John Wanamaker’s in Wynnewood or Strawbridge and Clothier in Suburban Square, making sure you had what you needed. The world is a different place without her and is so deeply missed.
Mom’s celebration of life will be 1:30 Tuesday May 31st at the Toppitzer Funeral Home in Drexel Hill, 2900 State Rd., followed by her burial at the Arlington Cemetery.
www.Arlingtoncemetery.us