Edia F. Flippen

Edia Fernandez Flippen, 84, of Columbia, Maryland, passed away May 27, 2025.

She was born April 11, 1941, in Lares, Puerto Rico, to Juan Fernandez and Maria Dolores Gonzalez.

She worked for more than 30 years as a dietitian for the Baltimore City Health Department’s Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed hobbies that fed her creativity including sewing, crocheting, gardening, dollmaking, and playing guitar. She was an expert seamstress, creating dresses, winter coats, decorative curtains, and all manner of costumes for her grandchildren. Edia read broadly, including books on religion and science as well as works of fiction. Jane Austen was her favorite author. She was also an avid coin collector.

Edia donated to many charities. Perhaps closest to her heart was the Operation Christmas Child project through Samaritan’s Purse International Relief. She filled thousands of shoe boxes for over a decade with handmade gifts that were distributed to children in need around the world.

She traveled the world with her beloved husband, Charlie. Over their 49-year marriage, they visited places such as Mexico, England, Ireland, Greece, and Russia. They also traveled widely in the United States, including memorable visits to the Grand Canyon, Graceland, New York City, and Key West. After Charlie’s death in 2016, she continued globetrotting, including trips to South America and Isreal.

Above all, her greatest pleasure came from being Abuela. Edia adored her grandchildren. She attended countless dance recitals, chorus concerts, musicals, soccer games, and karate exhibitions over the years. She taught them all about her beloved home of Puerto Rico.

Edia is survived by her son, Carli; her daughter-in-law, Anne; her grandchildren, Lucy, Gracie, and Asher; and her sisters, Migdalia and Amanda. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Wilfredo, and her husband Charlie.

Edia had a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease and resided at Morningside House Assisted Living in Ellicott City for the last nearly 2 years. She received loving care from the wonderful team there, and participated in many of the activities offered to residents. Her caregiver, Morgan, reports that The Walking Club on Memory Lane exists because of Edia’s inspiration to get up and move.

A visitation with the family will be held on Monday, June 2, 2025 at Donaldson Funeral Home of Clarksvile, P.A., 12540 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029 at 11a.m. with a memorial service to follow at noon.

If you would like to watch the live-streaming of the memorial service at the scheduled time please click HERE .

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association or Samaritan’s Purse .

Alzheimer's Association
225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago IL 60601
Web: https://www.alz.org/

Samaritan's Purse
P.O. Box 3000, Boone NC 28607
Tel: 1-828-262-1980
Web: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/