Mrs. Lydia Horn was an elegant and gracious woman. She was born on January 5, 1928 in Russia and returned to heaven on December 26, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. She escaped war-torn Russia when just 16 years old, near the end of WWII. She lived in a displaced persons camp in Allied-Occupied Germany where she met and married Joseph Grigorenko (later Americanized to Gregory). She gave birth to their first-born child, only to lose him shortly thereafter. Soon after the loss she gave birth to their son, Alex who spent his first six months in the Camp with his parents.
In September of 1949, Lydia, Joe and baby Alex, with the help of the Red Cross, located a sponsor in the U.S. – Lydia’s uncle, Jim Schlosser. At that time, they relocated to the U.S. where they quickly adapted to American life. They had two more children, Jimmy and Liz (Ann). In 1964, tragedy visited their family when Joe died unexpectedly, leaving Lydia a widowed working mother of three. She worked as an interpreter for the government. She bravely continued to provide for their children as she pursued a career at Blue Cross Blue Shield. During that time, she was crowned Miss Blue Cross Blue Shield, a coveted honor of the time.
After her children were raised, Lydia met and married Phillip Horn M.D. They shared much happiness and traveled the world until he passed away several decades later.
She expressed her heart of care to others through her involvement with church. It was at church that she met Bob Schaar, who became her friend and companion for many years before he passed away.
She was a member of San Jose Catholic church and Holy Family Catholic Church, the Garden Circle, San Jose Country Club and the University Club where she formed numerous lasting relationships.
She is survived by her adoring children, Alex, Jim, and Liz (Ann) Gregory as well as a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her lasting legacy in this “New World”. She is also survived by Wilma Gorhau, her sister of the heart who was her lifetime companion and dearest friend until the very end.
To know Lydia was to love her. The sparkle in her blue eyes drew you in deeply. She had a way of making you feel very important and very seen in any of the 5 languages she spoke fluently. We are all left with her challenge of finding the “Blessing in the Sky” when things get extra difficult. She will be missed dearly by family and friends alike.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 - 2:00pm on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at the Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Legacy Lodge, with funeral services following at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow funeral services. The family will have a reception back in the Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Lodge following burial services. Flowers may be sent to Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn or donations may be made in Lydia's honor to the Sulzbacher Center.
Happy birthday from your children mom 1/5/2022. We love you to the moon and back!
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