Helen Conroy - Obituary

elen Marie Conroy, 97, a 17-year resident of Annapolis and previously of Adelphi, died June 1 at her residence after a brief illness. Born on January 11, 1917 in Brooklyn, NY to the late John and Loretta Lindlau, Helen graduated from high school, married and moved to Maryland. Once her children were in school, she went to work in 1959 as an administrative assistant at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. In 1961, Helen moved to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt where she made a career for the next 22 years in personnel administration. Helen moved to Annapolis in 1997 and attended St. John Neumann Catholic Church and previously St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Adelphi where she was an active member of the Post-Cana Group. She was also a member of the Annapolis Senior Center. Helen was a vibrant person, a friend to everyone, and was known for her compassionate nature, generosity, and sense of humor. She enjoyed being with family and friends, traveling, and watching Orioles games. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Q. Conroy who died in 1979; daughter, Elaine Moore who died in 2007; two brothers, Raymond and John Lindlau; and sister, Dorothy Kelly. Helen is survived by two daughters, Marilyn (Art) Drea of Annapolis and Doris (Rick) Allen of Davidsonville; four grandchildren, Douglas and Kristina (Jason Reed) Allen, Tracy (Edward) McGowan, Erin (Chris) Olexia; and five great-grandchildren: Devin, Mallory & Nolan McGowan, and Avery and Huntley Olexia. Friends are invited to Helen’s Life Celebration from 4 to 6 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 8 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. A Memorial Mass will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 9 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N. Bestgate Road, Annapolis. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SOME, 71 “O” Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 or Little Sisters of the Poor, 601Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD 21228. An online guestbook is available by accessing the link above.