Obituary of Catherine G. Lehman

Catherine Georgia Lehman, nee Georgia Boyko Georgia Lehman of Mt. Kisco died on Monday, January 18, 2016 of cancer. A talented theater actress and later an administrator, Georgia Boyko was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 22, 1931 to Catherine (Wilchuk) and Michael Boyko, a restauranteur in Brooklyn. Georgia’s mother died when she was 6 months old and she was raised along with her brother, Thomas Boyko by her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth and Edward Lalonde in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. All predecease her. Georgia graduated from Douglass College (now Rutgers University) in 1952 and the New York American Theater Wing in 1953. A professional theater actress in the 1950's, Georgia performed in summer and winter stock productions in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Upon the birth of her children, Georgia had an administrative career, retiring from Swiss Re, a re-insurance company. In retirement, she volunteered at Head Start, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Northern Westchester Hospital and the Jacob Burns Film Center. Her love of the arts, and in particular live dramatic theater, was central to her life. She was divorced from the late Lewis W. Lehman, a theater, film and music producer and director. Georgia leaves her beloved children, Kristin Ferguson (David) of Toronto, Christopher Lehman (Maureen) of Yonkers, Jennifer Paquette (John) of Denver. She was a loving and devoted grandmother to Jessica Bright (Graham), Tory Ferguson, Alexander Ferguson, Baxter Lehman, Ally Lehman, Michael Paquette, Joshua Paquette and John Paul Paquette, and great-grandmother to Jack Bright. She was predeceased by her cherished son, Michael Lehman. Also left to mourn are her daughter-in-law, Denise Lehman, her cousin Edmund Lalonde and his daughter Trudy Steinhardt and her family. Georgia’s family is grateful to the doctors, nurses and technicians at Mt. Kisco Medical Group and Northern Westchester Hospital who provided her with outstanding medicine and compassionate care. We are equally grateful to the nurses of Hospice Care in Westchester and Putnam for their expertise and support in the last days of our mother’s life. The family will receive friends at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at the Oelker-Cox & Sinatra Funeral Home, 262 E. Main Street, Mt. Kisco, NY. Followed immediately by a service at 11:00 am and Christian burial at St. Francis Cemetery, Mt. Kisco. In lieu of flowers, and if desired, a donation to a charitable organization Georgia served as a volunteer, would be appreciated by her family.