Obituary for Laura Conlin
Margaret Laura Conlin (nee Rainier), 91, of Brandywine Senior Living at Wall and formerly of Burlington Township and Weston Club in Marlton, died peacefully on February 13, 2023. Born on a family farm in Florence, NJ, Laura especially enjoyed her high school years as a cheerleader and ice skater. She was proud of her older brothers, Franklin "Bud," Leland, and Kenneth, who served as Marines in WWII. Her two sisters, Ann and Leona, were her best friends, known for their expertise at shopping and housecleaning. When she met her future husband, George "Joe" Conlin, at a newspaper store in Burlington City, he was sleeping in the newspaper truck because he was too poor to rent a room. After they were married, he enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War, and was trained as a Medic. When he was honorably discharged, they built a life together from the ground up. With four children, they both made ends meet with multiple jobs. He joined the Burlington Township police force as a Dispatcher and rose through the ranks as Detective and then Lieutenant. When he and a few neighbors founded Relief Fire Company, Laura supported him by helping form the Ladies Auxiliary, which began to serve roast beef dinners that were so good that the lines of eager diners wrapped around the block. The success of that semi-annual fundraiser quickly paid for the firehouse and updated equipment. She took on part-time work as a grocery checkout clerk, retail clerk at a formal dress shop in Burlington Mall, and then as an after-school aide at Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington City. When she wasn't working, she was baking, her favorite past-time. Her pies, cakes and puddings were always much to her family's delight when they came home from school. Later she would bake with her three grandchildren who spent many hours with her while their parents worked or enjoyed a night or weekend away.
Widowed after almost 60 years, Laura looked to her family, especially her surviving sister Ann, to help her transition to her new life after losing the man who meant the world to her as her protector and "Medic." Fiercely competitive with each other, the sisters became almost inseparable, encouraging each other to get out of the house after it was dusted and vacuumed, of course. When Laura needed more care and moved to Brandywine, Ann, who was then 97, would come up every two weeks to spend the day with her. When Laura was awake and afraid to be alone, she would call her sister and no matter the hour, Ann would answer and reassure her. When Ann, 99, passed away last September, no one had the heart to tell Laura. Her years after her husband's death were not easy. She was always looking for the way home, expressing that desire to go home, but not hearing the call until a moment chosen by the Heavenly Father. But when that moment came, she acknowledged it with a broad smile before taking her last breath, which let her grieving daughter and her devoted friend Beth know that she had seen the only Way Home.
For the past two years, Laura was a resident at Brandywine at Wall where she was known and loved as the cute, sweet kind-hearted person that she was. Affectionately known by her care managers as "LuLu" she received exceptional care and always expressed her appreciation. She loved getting her hair done and amused staff by proclaiming her pure white hair was "champagne beige," the color of her younger years. She believed that every other white-haired senior there had admired her hair color so much that they asked for it. Ever observant, she would tell staffers after they had been away on sick leave or vacation that she missed them and was so glad they were back. There were countless ways that she made friends with anyone who took the time to speak to her. In her last year, she was known for her plush dog that she believed was real which endeared her even more to residents and staff alike. Her legacy gift to the other residents in memory care at Brandywine is an animated plush dog that will make her friends smile. Family offers sincere gratitude to so many who gave her care and joy in her last two years. Team Laura included Beth Bailey, Carol and Meghan Desmond, Janet Smith and Carline Elysee who made sure she enjoyed trips to local restaurants, took her to the bistro for coffee, played games and gave her loving undivided attention. She loved her incredible care managers and her favorite nurses. She would want us to give special thanks to Carmel, Brandywine's concierge, who would talk to her by the lobby fireplace about their shared childhoods growing up on a farm. Finally, thank you to executive director Keith Harper for making sure the American flag was flying high so she could see it from her window in her last days. There are many more staff members at Brandywine who deserve credit for always making her feel special. May you be rewarded for your kindness.
Laura was predeceased by her parents, Franklin and Florence, her husband George "Joe," her sisters Leona Jacoby and Ann Johnson, her brothers listed above, sisters-in-law Helen, Anna, Louise and Emma Spotts, her brothers-in-law Samuel Johnson, Len Conlin and Richard Spotts, and her first nephew Dennis. She is survived by her brothers John "Jack" and Nelson, her sister-in-law Eleanor and brother-in-law William Jacoby. She was the devoted mother to her children, George (Ann), Sandra (Tom) of FL, Joanne (Richard) and Joseph (Susan) of NJ. She treasured her three grandchildren, Robert (Abbie) Bowen, Laura Bowen, and Tyler Conlin, three great grandchildren, all of FL, and many nieces and nephews in NJ, FL and SC.
Laura will be buried with her husband on Monday, February 27, at 2 PM, at Brigadier General William C. Doyle's Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ 08562. There will be no viewing or church gathering but a graveside service will be offered by her niece, Dr. Helen Rainier. All are invited. Please no flowers because the cemetery only permits one arrangement from the family. Family appreciates offerings of Mass intentions but requests that what most honors Laura is to encourage everyone to visit the home bound, the sick and the lonely. Arrangements are under the care of Orender Family Home for Funerals, Manasquan, NJ. To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.
Widowed after almost 60 years, Laura looked to her family, especially her surviving sister Ann, to help her transition to her new life after losing the man who meant the world to her as her protector and "Medic." Fiercely competitive with each other, the sisters became almost inseparable, encouraging each other to get out of the house after it was dusted and vacuumed, of course. When Laura needed more care and moved to Brandywine, Ann, who was then 97, would come up every two weeks to spend the day with her. When Laura was awake and afraid to be alone, she would call her sister and no matter the hour, Ann would answer and reassure her. When Ann, 99, passed away last September, no one had the heart to tell Laura. Her years after her husband's death were not easy. She was always looking for the way home, expressing that desire to go home, but not hearing the call until a moment chosen by the Heavenly Father. But when that moment came, she acknowledged it with a broad smile before taking her last breath, which let her grieving daughter and her devoted friend Beth know that she had seen the only Way Home.
For the past two years, Laura was a resident at Brandywine at Wall where she was known and loved as the cute, sweet kind-hearted person that she was. Affectionately known by her care managers as "LuLu" she received exceptional care and always expressed her appreciation. She loved getting her hair done and amused staff by proclaiming her pure white hair was "champagne beige," the color of her younger years. She believed that every other white-haired senior there had admired her hair color so much that they asked for it. Ever observant, she would tell staffers after they had been away on sick leave or vacation that she missed them and was so glad they were back. There were countless ways that she made friends with anyone who took the time to speak to her. In her last year, she was known for her plush dog that she believed was real which endeared her even more to residents and staff alike. Her legacy gift to the other residents in memory care at Brandywine is an animated plush dog that will make her friends smile. Family offers sincere gratitude to so many who gave her care and joy in her last two years. Team Laura included Beth Bailey, Carol and Meghan Desmond, Janet Smith and Carline Elysee who made sure she enjoyed trips to local restaurants, took her to the bistro for coffee, played games and gave her loving undivided attention. She loved her incredible care managers and her favorite nurses. She would want us to give special thanks to Carmel, Brandywine's concierge, who would talk to her by the lobby fireplace about their shared childhoods growing up on a farm. Finally, thank you to executive director Keith Harper for making sure the American flag was flying high so she could see it from her window in her last days. There are many more staff members at Brandywine who deserve credit for always making her feel special. May you be rewarded for your kindness.
Laura was predeceased by her parents, Franklin and Florence, her husband George "Joe," her sisters Leona Jacoby and Ann Johnson, her brothers listed above, sisters-in-law Helen, Anna, Louise and Emma Spotts, her brothers-in-law Samuel Johnson, Len Conlin and Richard Spotts, and her first nephew Dennis. She is survived by her brothers John "Jack" and Nelson, her sister-in-law Eleanor and brother-in-law William Jacoby. She was the devoted mother to her children, George (Ann), Sandra (Tom) of FL, Joanne (Richard) and Joseph (Susan) of NJ. She treasured her three grandchildren, Robert (Abbie) Bowen, Laura Bowen, and Tyler Conlin, three great grandchildren, all of FL, and many nieces and nephews in NJ, FL and SC.
Laura will be buried with her husband on Monday, February 27, at 2 PM, at Brigadier General William C. Doyle's Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ 08562. There will be no viewing or church gathering but a graveside service will be offered by her niece, Dr. Helen Rainier. All are invited. Please no flowers because the cemetery only permits one arrangement from the family. Family appreciates offerings of Mass intentions but requests that what most honors Laura is to encourage everyone to visit the home bound, the sick and the lonely. Arrangements are under the care of Orender Family Home for Funerals, Manasquan, NJ. To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.