Audrey Conroy

Conroy , Audrey J. 1/30/1928 - 1/12/2017 Portage, Formerly of Mendon Warm, welcoming, kind, understanding, generous. Born Audrey Jean Corning, to Lydia and Maurice Corning on January 30, 1928 in Kalamazoo, she was a daughter, a sister to five siblings, a wife, a great friend, an aunt to 21 nieces and nephews, a terrific mother to nine, a confidant and mother-in-law to 13 and a loving "Granny" to 35 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. If you count them up, Audrey had a family numbering triple digits...... and counting. Remaining to carry on her legacy are Audrey's nine children and their families: Judith Conroy, John and Sandra Conroy, Thomas and Susan Conroy, Patrick Conroy, Susan and James Burrell, Timothy Conroy, Jerilyn and Paul Kerber, Stephen and Christa Conroy and Shawn Conroy. and her dearest sister Lavon Packer and her husband, Jerry. Leaving us before Audrey were her parents, Lydia and Maurice Corning, her husband John Vincent Conroy in 1984, her significant partner, Robert Meyers in 2007, sister Joyce, brother Maurice, sister Vernus and numerous close friends. Even as she was the matriarch of a large clan, she was independent and had interests and activities outside of home. In the 50's and 60's she was a Grey Lady, volunteering at Borgess Hospital. Later some of her most enjoyable and memorable days were spent as a Reading Parapro at Mendon Elementary School. More recently, she helped organize and run the in-house store at Crossroads Village. She loved to play cards, especially with the grandkids. She was a good cook and could truly stretch a grocery dollar. She had some interesting and unique snacking habits. She was a good conversationalist and had a free and easy laugh. She had a warm heart, a sensitive nature and a soft and gentle cry. Our family is especially thankful for the love she felt in the years she lived at Constitution Village. We are very thankful and grateful for the kind and gentle care she received at Bickford Cottage these past five months and for the wondrous Great Lakes Hospice service in the last few days of her life. She was loved much and will be missed much. At her request cremation has taken place and no formal memorial service is planned. We will be holding a memorial event in late July on the banks of the St. Joseph River near Mendon. Memorials may be made to the Bob and Jerry Jones Scholarship (checks payable to Bob and Jerry Jones Memorial Fund) c/o Mendon High School, 148 Kirby Rd, Mendon, MI 49072. Family and friends may share a condolence message online at www.joldersma-klein.com