Lois O. "Ree" Hooven

Lois O “Ree” Hooven, of West Grove Pennsylvania, beloved wife of the late John E. Hooven passed away at home on Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, at the young age of 99 surrounded by her family.

Born on January 28, 1925, in Coatesville, PA she was the daughter to the late George S. Leslie and Nellie Jackson Leslie, the wife of the late John E. Hooven, Sr who died in 2001. She is predeceased by her loving sister Jaunita “Bunny” Broomell.

Ree graduated from Coatesville High School, formerly the Scott High, in1944 and married her high school sweetheart, Johnny in 1946. In 1953 she moved to West Chester where she enjoyed selling designer clothing for a well-known women’s dress shop “Joels” for 35 years. She retired in 1988 and moved to Ocala, Florida for five years until she returned to the area in 1995.

Ree is survived by her son, John Hooven, Jr, daughter Bonnie (James) Finn, brother Jessie “Jack” Leslie and sister Nancy “Pat” Naylor. Ree was the cherished grandmother of James Patrick (Andrea) Finn, Cindy (Patrick) Huver and Shannon (Laura) Finn and great-grandmother to Patrick, Ian, Kai, Zoe, Brooke, Harlow, and Vada.

Ree enjoyed boating for twenty-five years on Chesapeake Bay with her late husband, Johnny. Ree greatly valued her faith and was most proud of her family and being a grandmother, and great-grandmother to her seven great grandchildren. The legacy of love she left behind was her gift of writing and citing poetry that she would frequently share with others.

She was an avid bingo player, loved watching the Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles and spending time with her family.

A celebration of life service will be held Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, 410 N. Church St, West Chester, PA 19380, 610-696-1181. Visitation will be held from 10:00-10:45 am. Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Brandywine SPCA.