Mary Margaret Conneen

Mary (Mari) Margaret Leidig Conneen was born on December 21, 1946, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She was adopted at birth by Edward and Margaret Leidig, while her biological parents were Charles and Evelyn Dech. Her father, Charles, was a Master Woodcarver, renowned for creating most of the Miniature Circus Carvings for Ringling Bros. Circus.
Mari grew up in the quiet village of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Southern Lehigh High School in 1964. She had a lifelong passion for art, which she explored during her school years while working part-time at a silk-screen company. Her artistic journey continued when she became an apprentice silversmith at C. Leslie Smith Silversmith in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
In 1965, she married Joseph L. Conneen, Jr., a United States Marine Corps enlistee. Throughout their nearly 60-year marriage, she supported her husband while raising their three sons. Early in their marriage, she worked as an interior designer in Jacksonville and Miami, Florida, before dedicating herself primarily to homemaking.
In her late 20s, a visit to an outdoor art exhibit rekindled her passion for painting. As a self-taught artist, Mari developed a distinctive style that brought her significant acclaim, earning over 500 top awards in major juried exhibitions worldwide. Her art, often inspired by nature, the environment, botanical themes, sea life, and architecture, captivated art enthusiasts and collectors alike. By her 40s, she was receiving top honors in every competition she entered, with her work becoming part of the permanent collections of major museums and cities throughout the Southeast. She was a signature member of the
National Watercolor Society, featured in publications like Southern Accents, and listed in Who's Who. Some collectors even hailed her as an artistic genius for her unpredictable creativity.
Mari is survived by her devoted husband, Joseph L. Conneen, Jr., her three sons: Christopher (Robin), Matthew (Helena), and Michael, six granddaughters, and one great-granddaughter. In the final two decades of her life, she found peace cultivating natural habitats in her mountain woodlands of North Carolina.
She developed dementia in her early 70s, which marked the end of her creative years. Mari passed away on January 10, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. There was a Celebration of Life for Mari on the 2nd of February, 2025, from 3-5PM, at the Pizza Gallery & Grill, in the Avenues Viera, Brevard County, Fl.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to support Brevard Zoo's future Bowen Aquarium and Dr. Duane De Freese Coastal Conservation Hub.