Barbara Lee Conine

Barbara Lee Conine (nee. Maurer) entered this world on May 21st, 1936 with the purpose of filling people’s lives with laughter and love. She was born in Albion, Michigan to Fay Franklin Maurer and Lucille Winifred Maurer (nee. Marshall). Growing up Barb was passionate about horses, singing songs to her friends and walking to the local candy store to get candy.

Barb devoted her life to raising her 5 children to be strong, independent and loving people. Being a mother was her most important role throughout her life. She was also committed to making many fun and happy memories with her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and those she was called to nanny. Barb enjoyed nothing more than spending time with them. Children always made her heart the most full and her life the happiest. She shared a powerful and everlasting bond with her children, grandchildren and those she nannied. Barb didn’t just limit her love and care to children but also extended it for more than 20 years caring for elderly and mentally handicapped individuals as a nurse. Barb cared for them as though they were her family. She knew God’s love all the days of her life and she shared that love with everyone blessed enough to know her.

Her love and selflessness were always freely extended to everyone she encountered. Barb lived every second God gifted her to the fullest. In her younger years, she loved drinking beer, watching football (especially U of M and the Seattle Seahawks) and listening to music. Football was always her favorite sport loving U of M like any self-respecting Maurer would. Playing video games with her kids, grandkids, those she nannied, in-laws, and her kids’ friends was one of her best memories. She would play video games for hours like a big kid, often out playing the kids!

Once Barb’s last granddaughter, Madelyn, was born she was obsessed with being a part of every aspect of her life. Barb attended every activity Madelyn participated in. She lived to spend time with Madelyn watching movies, playing board games, and sharing stories of her childhood. Going to Madelyn’s swim practices/meets; band concerts, and gymnastics was her greatest joy during the last decade of her life.

Barb also enjoyed attending church at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Her love for God was deeply rooted. She could not wait to attend church on Sunday. Listening to the sermons about God’s love and compassion were an important source of strength for her. Barb also really loved hanging out with her friends in the fellowship hall after church. She’d eat cookies and other sweets she wasn’t supposed to have while sharing stories of her life with her friends. It was a special experience for Barb.

Barb lived to laugh and make jokes. Even if the person she was telling the joke about didn’t find it funny. Laughter and God gave her strength when she fought and defeated cancer twice. They gave her strength as she raised her daughter as a single mom at the age of 44. They gave her strength in her latest years as she faced congestive heart failure multiple times, and kidney failure. During these struggles Barb was surrounded by a tremendous amount of love from her family, which gave her incredible strength and endurance. Few people on earth are as loved and cherished as Barb. She is best described by her Great- Nephew, Derrick Maurer, “She was such a bright light in our family… Her spirit was so youthful, I just thought she’d never leave.”

After a life filled with God’s tremendous miracles and boundless love from her family and friends she was called home to join Jesus, where she will continue to bestow her love, protection, and peace upon her loved ones for eternity, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

She is survived by her 5 children: Robin Karns (David) (Womble), Mark Womble (Marla), Richard Ross-Conine, Robert Conine (Jackie), and Richelle Conine.

She is survived by her six Grandchildren: Shanna Bayush (Jason) (Leeck), Brooke Leeck, Courtney Womble, Lyndsay Rodriguez, Joshua Womble (Jessica), and Madelyn Miller.

She is survived by her nine Great-Grandchildren: Graciana Rodriguez, Garrett Rodriguez, Caden Cochran, Lainey Bayush, Olivia Rodriguez, Chloe Cochran, Chase Leeck, Harper Womble, and Gabriel Leeck.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Fay and Lucille Maurer; her siblings: Jeanie Behling, Dorothy Maurer, Harold, Eleanor Andrews, Linda O’Dell, and Alice Moore.

Barb’s funeral will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Manns Funeral Home, 17000 Middlebelt Rd, Livonia, MI 48154 at 1:00pm with visitation starting at 12:00p - 1:00p. Refreshments will follow the funeral until 4:00pm.

The Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Albion Memorial Gardens 26905 B-Drive S, Albion, MI 49224 at 12:00 pm.