Helen Therese Legg

Helen Gorman Legg, 91, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday at Crofton Care & Rehabilitation Center. She is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, William, who passed away in 1986. She is survived by her three children, William Legg and his wife Nancy of Linthicum, Therese Maliszewski and her husband Michael of Oakland, and Christopher Legg and his wife Carrie of Stevensville. She is also survived by five grandchildren—William Legg, Kerry McCutcheon, Melissa Legg, Lisa Cruz, and Allison Maliszewski; and two great-grandchildren—Tyler Reed and Stella Cruz.

The daughter of Thomas Gorman, a first generation Irish immigrant, and Margaret Bahen, Helen was born and raised in Baltimore’s “Pigtown” neighborhood. She loved sharing stories of her experiences growing up in Baltimore during the Depression—frequent house moves when rent money was scarce; the entire neighborhood sleeping in Carroll Park when summer nights became unbearably hot; and later, of her father's work with the Works Project Administration in the 1940s.

Even in tough times, she found a silver lining, recognizing her great fortune in family, friends, faith and community. Until the final years of her life, Helen could be counted on for a rousing chorus of "Pigtown Will Shine Tonight!"

Helen married William "Bill" Legg in 1942. Bill's U.S. Army field artillery unit was in Europe for the first three years of their marriage. Back home, Helen closely followed Baltimore Sun news articles on local troop activity, including Bill's D-Day landing at the beach in Normandy. Upon his return, Helen and Bill purchased a home on Patapsco Road in Linthicum, where she lived for 55 years.

Helen was a founding member of Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church and belonged to the church’s card club for many years. She always said that her greatest thrill in life was meeting Pope John Paul II when he visited Baltimore in 1995.

Helen served as a Boy Scout den mother and Girl Scout troop leader for her children and neighbors. The first in her family to graduate high school, she had a lifelong love of reading—particularly mystery novels—inspired by her father.

Proud of her Irish heritage, Helen spent many years researching her genealogy and corresponding with relatives both in the U.S. and overseas. She eventually traveled to Ireland with a tour group, going "off the grid" to visit her ancestral home sites. She is remembered for her kind heart, sense of humor, and strength of character.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m at the Kaufman Funeral Home, 7250 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Monday at Saint Philip Neri, 6405 Orchard Road, Linthicum, followed by interment at Meadowridge Memorial Park.

Arrangements under the direction of Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park, Elkridge, MD.