Virginia Joann “Jo” Conlin, 91

November 24, 2024

Death came gently for our mom. She took her last breath on November 24, 2024 surrounded by her daughters, grandchildren, niece and the Moravian Manor staff who had become part of her family.

Born in Lancaster in 1933, she was a child of the Great Depression and World War II. The daughter of Virginia E. Snyder and Grover Cleveland Snyder, Jr., she recalled a magical childhood spent playing with her four siblings in Lancaster city. She attended J.P. McCaskey High School and shortly after graduation she married our dad, Richard “Dick” R. Conlin who passed in 2016.

She began her married life at the University of Illinois where my dad attended graduate school. Returning to Lancaster they began creating a family. Our mom was a creative and over the years delved into many interests including sewing, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, videography, painting, tennis and golf. She was an amazing cook and gardener. In their later years, mom and dad spent many winters in Fort Myers, Florida at the Landings playing golf and living the “retired” life which they both embraced. She traveled to England, most memorably with me, where we immersed ourselves in the London stage, brooding Edinburgh, Scottish lochs, pubs, Wales, the Lake District, Glastonbury, cathedrals, stone circles, and legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood.

She loved handsome men and strong women. She loved rock and roll, especially the Eagles and Toto. She loved fresh strawberries, pastries, sand tarts and corn on the cob. She helped us create crafts, put on plays for the neighborhood and made our Holidays so memorable.

We are her surviving daughters, Kim E. Ludewig, Rebecca C. Kopp and Kathleen “Katy” M. Conlin (married to Samuel Fonzi). “Meemaw” is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Jessica C. Morales and Max E. Ludewig and her dear niece, Virginia S. Rohrer and her little brother, John Robert Snyder. She is predeceased by her parents and siblings Zoe M. Rohrer, Grover “Happy” C. Snyder III and Paula E. Wolf.

Our mother’s legacy is not in careers or awards or heroic deeds but in her passions which survive in us…a passion for learning, for words, for reading, for art, for theater, for music, for games, for the beach, for gardening, for cooking, for history, for debate, for women’s rights, for pets, for all things British and most importantly…for laughter.

We love you Mom. We love you Meemaw. We love you Aunt Joann. Forever and always!

According to her wishes there will be no service.