Lawrence Meo, Sr.

On April 5, 2026, of Washington Twp. Age 90. Beloved husband of Victoria (nee Renzi). Devoted father of Lawrence Meo Jr. (Mary), Lorraine Poitras (Tom), Diane Meo, John Meo (Doreen), Linda Thorpe (Glenn), Joanne Orlandi (Michael), and Edward DeLuise (Rebecca). Loving grandfather of 19. Beloved “Poppy” of 26. Dear brother of the late Domenic, Elsie, and Dolores. Loved by many nieces and nephews.

Anyone who knew Lawrence (Larry) knew that his world revolved around his “Queen” of 68 years, his beloved wife Vicki, and his immediate and extended family.  In addition to being her Rock and raising six kids with her, he was generous with his time and talents in the community and the church.  As a young father, he was Director of CCD at St. Jude’s RCC in Blackwood and was one of the founding members of the Bells Lake Community Club, serving as its President for many years.  He volunteered many hours organizing dances for the community and making Bells Lake his young family’s vacation spot every summer weekend for over 20 years. Sailing and fishing on the lake just a few blocks from home with family and friends was his perfect travel destination.  When the family grew to include grandchildren, he broadened his horizons and spent summer days at Ventnor beach, where they would camp out with the radio hanging from the umbrella, Grandpop sitting under it indulging in pizza goldfish, calling out crossword clues to the grandkids surrounding him.

In addition to his intense love of puzzles, his life was filled with music. He was always singing, humming, or whistling his favorite songs. He taught himself to play acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, and mandolin.  His taste in music was widespread, ranging from Jan Peerce, Perry Como, and Louie Prima to Donna Summer, who you would hear blasting from his car stereo whenever he rolled up. Most recently, neighbors would hear him coming down the street on his scooter, singing along with Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra as he rode by.   Larry’s love of 8mm film and his painstaking conversion to DVDs gave us the greatest gift of hours of home movies, from his wedding and our early years to watching the grandchildren grow up together, creating his own library of classic films that he and his family never got tired of watching.

One of his other favorite things were his toys – trains, planes, kites and race cars. “What you don’t have as a child you can’t get enough of as an adult.”

Larry didn’t have the easiest childhood, but as a young man he developed an intense appreciation for the sacrifices that his mother and older siblings made that allowed him to finish his education and lead to his successful career.  This appreciation contributed to his lifelong philosophy of always being grateful for what you have, never asking for more, and always finding the positive in every situation.  He was an eternal optimist. He never stopped thanking people for whatever kindness or service they performed, from bank tellers to nurses, usually with a box of candy left the next day. Lately, it was his children and his “trio of angels” who received his daily gratitude.  Although the last five years of his life took some of his independence and memory, he never lost his sense of humor, his graciousness, his gratitude, his generosity, or the enjoyment of seeing his grand and great-grandchildren and the love and devotion of his beloved Vicki.  He passed quietly at home on Easter morning surrounded by his family into the loving arms of the Lord.

Whenever you asked Larry how he was, he would say he was the luckiest man alive.  If you asked anyone else, we would say we were lucky to have known and loved him for 90 years.

“You will find peace and contentment forever; If you will be like I, hold your head up high; Til’ you see a ray of light; And so remember this, life is no abyss – somewhere there’s a Bluebird of Happiness.”

Family and friends are welcome to attend his visitation Tuesday, April 14^th 9:00 – 11:00 AM at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, 176 Stagecoach Rd., Washington Twp. Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Berlin.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lawrence’s memory may be made to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.

“A Life Well Lived Is Worth Remembering”