Obituary of Annette Barbara Conroy

In Loving Memory of Annette Barbara Conroy August 27, 1935 – September 24, 2023

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Annette Barbara Conroy, passed away peacefully in her home on September 24, 2023 at the age of 88.

Born in Frackville, Pennsylvania, she was raised by her mother, Helen Cickavage. Annette married the love of her life, Frank Conroy, on January 18, 1953, shortly after Frank’s return from the Korean War. They raised four children in California and were active parishioners at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Rancho Cordova where they were blessed to make lifelong family friends. When they moved to Campbell, California their circle of friends grew among neighbors, members of the Moose Lodge, and parishioners at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church. Annette also grew lasting relationships with her roommates, hospice families, Red Hat friends, Brookdale Garden Grove and Harbor Heritage Adult Family Home communities.

With endless energy, a genuine zest for life, and a passion for family, friends, socializing and helping others, Annette was always organizing parties, meals, and fundraisers. She loved to celebrate birthdays for an entire month, extravagantly decorate for every holiday, and was particularly fond of Halloween where she was renowned as the ‘wicked witch’ with a green pimply nose, toothless smile, black pointy hat, and a loud and memorable cackle.

She was a longtime volunteer with hospice, the Elks annual toy drive, and the Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary. She worked part-time while raising her children then later worked full-time for Varian Electronics where she received numerous accolades as matriarch of the social committee.

She loved hats, sunflowers, shopping, gift giving, and craft fairs. She was very creative through many hobbies over the years including acting, singing, painting murals, creating stained glass, and painting Holiday gourds. She travelled to several continents, but her favorite travels were visits with family in Washington State, Pennsylvania, and England and with her friends throughout the world.

Friends and family remember her warm welcome, contagious laugh, adventurous and fearless spirit, demonstrative and unconditional love, genuine listening skills, and her ability to be in the present and make the most of every day. She collected and proudly displayed over 500 giraffes which she said reminded her “to stand tall.”

She had a big heart and loved many people dearly.

Annette is predeceased by her husband Francis “Frank” J. Conroy and her youngest son, John. She is survived by two sons, Jim (wife Susan) and Tom (wife Patty), daughter Susan Mott (husband Joel), seven grandchildren - Charlie, Russell, Sean, Rachel, Katie, Danielle, and Chris, four great-grandchildren, and her dog Buddy.

Please join us to celebrate her life with services and reception on Saturday, October 14, 2023, 2:00 p.m. PST at Discovery Baptist Church, 4902 Gustafson Dr NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335.

For those who cannot be there with us, we will also stream the services live via https://vimeo.com/event/3765928/a277eb795a.

In her memory, we invite you to make a gift to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation at https://giraffeconservation.org/donate/ or mail to Giraffe Conservation Foundation, 17 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801.