Philippa Lord

Philippa Smith Lord

Philippa Lord passed away peacefully on September 4, 2023 surrounded by her family at her residence in Fort Washington. She was 92. She was the daughter of Roberta Dearden Smith and Philip Peace Smith, the sister of Robert Smith, and the wife of Richard Lord, all of whom predeceased her.

She is survived by her four children from her first marriage to Robert A. Donato, MD – Tony Donato (Laurie), Geoff Donato, Carrie Morgan, Claire Donato (Greg); five grandchildren – Chris Morgan, Elisa Morgan (Lance), Katie Morgan, Liz Donato (Ben), Annie Marano (Grant); and two great grandchildren – Lawson Morgan and Robbie Marano, with a third on the way. When she was well into her eighties, she decided it was time to adopt a puppy and Bugsy entered her life.  The two of them were constant companions and brought joy to all who witnessed their devotion to each other.

Philippa was born on June 4, 1931, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and raised in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.  She attended The Shipley School and was also an accomplished figure skater spending much of her time at the Ardmore Skating Club. After her graduation, she trained as a clinical lab technician and worked at Bryn Mawr Hospital as a laboratory technician before she began her next career as a full-time mother.  Later in her life she learned the art of picture framing and eventually would own her own shop with her second husband, Richard, in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

Gardening and the love of flowers was a constant in her life. At her homes in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia she would establish a garden that all neighbors and visitors would have the good fortune to enjoy. She would always manage to fit in an extra lime green coleus or some other favorite plants. There was always room for another where other less ambitious gardeners would never attempt to try.

She also loved traveling, especially going on cruises where she established a friendship among fellow travelers who would frequently reunite on an excursion and who maintained a nurturing friendship through weekly calls. She visited much of the world and created fond memories of beautiful and interesting locations.

During her time at the CrossRidge community in Glen Allen, Virginia, she became enamored with line dancing and found a calling with her dedicated group of dancers who would practice regularly and put on shows with themes and elaborate costuming, much to the joy of residents of local healthcare facilities.

The Acts Community at Fort Washington Estates was her final home. Philippa loved her home, her neighbors, and the wonderful staff that gave her love and support from her first day as a resident to her final days.  To honor and memorialize her a fund has been established to provide an enhancement to the beautifully landscaped property at Fort Washington Estates.  Gifts in memory of Philippa Lord will benefit the Fort Washington Estates Grounds & Gardens Fund.  Checks can be made payable to Acts Legacy Foundation and sent to 420 Delaware Drive, PO Box 2222, Fort Washington, PA 19034.  Gifts can also be made online at www.actsgiving.org.

A memorial service will be arranged at a later date.

“If you look the right way, you can see the whole world is a garden.”

• Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden