Cynthia “Joy” Reeder Abell Cannon, 88, of Pennsylvania, died Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Paramount Senior Living in Fayetteville, PA, where she lived the last chapter of her full life.
Born August 6, 1937, in Glyndon, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Luther John Reeder and Nellie Ruby May Reeder. Joy lived most of her early childhood in Baltimore and later moved to Carroll County, where she enjoyed growing up in the country. Surrounded by nature, her childhood was rich with adventure as she and her siblings spent a great deal of time exploring the outdoors.
Following her mother’s death, Joy and her father returned to Baltimore, where she enrolled as a student at Clara Barton Vocational School to learn the artistry of designing, sewing, and dressmaking. An impeccable seamstress, her creations were often showcased on local Baltimore afternoon talk shows and featured in fashion shows in numerous area department stores.
Upon her father’s death, she moved to Eldersburg, MD, with her sister and brother-in-law, Dottie and John Rudnick. They very lovingly became Joy’s guardians, and her time spent with them was endearing and invaluable. While in Eldersburg, Joy met her future husband, Joseph “Buck” Abell of Winfield. They married and together raised five children on their farm in the Winfield area. She enjoyed the life of being a farmer’s wife and homemaker. She loved cooking and baking and was very active in her children’s school and sports functions.
Joy experienced many adventures in her adult life. She became a licensed recreational pilot, was an avid runner participating in countless races, worked as a Barbizon model and recruiter, enjoyed skiing in Colorado and Utah, as well as boating in the Florida Keys, took Taekwondo lessons with her son, and enjoyed having her own Harley Davidson motorcycle for a brief period.
Joy loved her family immensely and was the proud matriarch of five generations. She was the “light” of the family and kept her remarkable sense of humor until the end. She took immense pleasure in making every holiday special for her family and particularly loved Christmas.
Joy was predeceased by her parents and six siblings. She was also predeceased by her husband, Joseph “Buck” Abell, her son Joseph C Abell, and his wife Donna, as well as her granddaughter, Tanya Michelle Abell.
Joy is survived by daughter, Danita Abell Bly and husband Wendell, son, D. Scott Abell and wife Dottie, son, Patrick Abell and wife Michelle, and son Chris Abell and wife Julie. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and her sister-in-law, Charlotte Abell.
A memorial service will be held at the Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Winfield at a future date. Interment will be private. Online condolences and obituary are available at monahanfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please consider performing a random act of kindness in honor of “Joy”.