Lois "Dode" Conroy

Lois “Dode” Conroy, 93, of Asheville, died August 29 at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community. The daughter of William and Ethel Hepner, she lived in Scranton and Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, where she and her husband, David James Conroy, raised their family until making Asheville their home. She was an avid reader and bridge player, a world traveler, and a talented artist who designed and created clothing, architectural plans, art, crafts, decks, patios, rafts and gardens. Her creativity was matched by her love of nature and animals: in addition to ever-present cats and dogs, at various times she offered shelter and care to deer, fox, raccoons and a monkey. Her beloved cat Taffy was her constant companion at Deerfield. She had an impeccable sense of style, sparkling blue eyes, gracious manners, a flirtatious personality and a beautiful and welcoming smile. While in Pennsylvania, Dode was on the board of the Everhart Art Museum and was a member of the Abington Junior Women’s Club and the Junior League as well as the Girl Scouts coordinator for many years. In 1970 the Conroys moved to Asheville, where Dode resumed her volunteer work by joining the boards of the Asheville Community Theater and the Asheville Art Museum. She was active with the Health Adventure, the Presbyterian Church Circle, the Town and Country Garden Club, the Tuesday Investment Club, and the Junior League. Her talent for figures, especially the lucky number three, and her gift for organization made her a valued member, and often treasurer, of each. Dode was dedicated to her family and shared her strong values and high standards with each member. When teaching her daughters to walk in heels, she instilled the motto “Conroys Don’t Wobble” - advice her family has embraced and expanded to metaphoric proportions. She was a good listener and friend to many because of her sincere interest in everyone’s stories, comings and goings, and families. She made everyone feel important by using her excellent memory to keep abreast of details and updates. An excellent correspondent, Dode maintained many long-distance friendships with people she and Dave had met during their travels. Dode was preceded in death by her husband David of 62 years and survived by her daughter Susan Williams and her husband Timothy of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pamela Breslin and her husband Andy of Lenox, Massachusetts, Christine Farnam and her husband Neil of Asheville, and her son Peter and his wife Roxana of Jacksonville, Alabama. Whether they called her Gigi, G’ma, Nana or Ooma, she was adored by her ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 1100 N, Bethesda, MD 20814, www.cff.org. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 9 at the Deerfield Health Care Chapel. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.