Fredericka Hadler Gordon

"Freddie" (Age 96)

Fredericka H. Gordon, long time resident of Arlington, Virginia, died suddenly after a brief illness on Thursday, February 12 at Virginia Hospital Center.

Devoted mother of Sharon Gough of Etlan, Virginia and Patricia Neilsen of Santa Cruz, California. She is survived by her sisters, Dorothy Barone of Wheaton, Illinois, Barbara McCarthy of Lowell, Indiana, and brothers Lawrence Hadler of Rantoul, Illinois, Donald Hadler of Ludlow, Illinois, and Victor Hadler of Deerfield Beach, Florida. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Patricia Gough, Thomas Gough and his wife, Traci, Christopher Gough and his wife, Kathy, and David Neilsen and his wife, Ann. She was the doting great grandmother of Alexander, Madison, and Nicholas Gough and Phoebe and Griffin Neilsen. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Fredericka was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Jerome Louis Gordon, and brothers Elmer, Walter, Charles and Henry, and sisters, Ethel and Carol.

Fredericka came to Washington, DC as a young girl and graduated from McKinley Tech High School in 1937. During her energetic life, Fredericka worked for the Department of the Navy during WWll as a stenographer. She took dictation during Joint Chiefs of Staff meetings that were coordinating war operations by the War and Navy Departments. In 1964, Fredericka was a secretary to the initial planning group of the Northern Virginia Community College, which opened in 1965. She remained with the College for almost 20 years until her retirement. She saw the College grow from planning stage and 75 students to the second largest multi-campus community college in the US. Fredericka lived her life with dignity and grace and was admired and loved by all those that knew her. She will be sorely missed. Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday, February 17th from 6:00-8:00 pm at Murphy's Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday the 18th at 11:00 am at the funeral home followed by interment at Columbia Gardens Cemetery.