Vicki Jo (Newell) Mardis

Vicki Jo (Newell) Mardis, born May 5th, 1973, died December 21st, 2025.

Very rarely do you get to write your own obituary. It’s left to your loved ones to paint a portrait of a life that extends beyond some simple words about your career, your parents, your relationships. Vicki wouldn’t have wanted a big deal to be made of her passing. But these words aren’t for the deceased—they’re for the living. This is Vicki, as seen through the eyes of her children, and we think she would have found that sufficient enough.

Vicki was a mother, a partner, a professional, and a volunteer. Hers is a story of success in spite of struggle. Of kindness in spite of circumstances.

Vicki grew up in York Haven, PA, and later in life moved to the New Cumberland, PA, area. She started working in the restaurant industry at a young age; a server at 83 Diner and a bartender at the Eagle’s Nest being the most memorable of those. Later in life, she fell in love with helping people purchase homes. She began her career in Mortgage Originating at Countrywide Mortgage Lenders before settling at AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union, where she had been employed the last 15+ years. Vicki was incredibly passionate about her career and made sure to instill not only the value of work ethic but also her drive to help others in her children. Vicki was constantly growing her knowledge, looking to achieve as much as possible. Nothing was too difficult or impossible once she set her mind to it. Later on in her career, Vicki became interested in home renovation. She would spend her evenings and weekends working on various projects and it wasn’t uncommon to stop by and find her framing a wall while still in her dress clothes from her day job.

Outside of Vicki’s professional interests, she had a variety of hobbies as well. She loved to feed people, and would often cook massive portions of whatever recipe she found on Food Network and distribute meals to all of her friends and family. They were always a hit! There is nothing like your mom’s cooking, but it wasn’t just her kids that looked forward to the weekly menu text.

Vicki also loved to garden. She spent almost every summer planning the perfect flower beds and found peace at the end of a long day admiring all of the colorful blooms. As most of her neighbors over the years will tell you, if it was sunny and above 75, she was outside “playing in the flowers” while blasting a wide range of music and enjoying a cold drink.

Above all else, Vicki was everyone’s mom. The nickname “Momma Vicki” was derived from times when she would tell you exactly what you didn’t want to hear, but needed to. No matter how old you were—if you were 2 or 102—she was always there to give advice, lend a helping hand, and be a friend you could trust and rely on. She was proud of her accomplishments throughout all of her struggles, and strived to help every person she came into contact with become the best versions of themselves (while also trying to be the best version of herself). She wasn’t afraid to make mistakes and encouraged all of those around her to reach their dreams.

Vicki will be remembered as exactly who she was: strong-willed (or stubborn, depending on who you ask), kind, passionate, and fearless. She will be remembered as the woman who would dance on the bar and not care who was watching, help you remodel your bathroom, purchase your first home, and invite a stranger to dinner if they were in need of a warm meal.

Surviving Vicki are her children, Danny Mardis, Jr. of Mechanicsburg, and Sara Mardis (fiancé, Eric Miller) of York Haven; siblings, Shelley L. Poorman, Cristy M. McNaughton (husband, Ronald), and Jennifer M. Claybaugh; and an aunt, Debra A. Newell. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kathy A. (Keim) Merrow and Dale R. Keim.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the near future. Please continue to monitor Vicki’s obituary page for updated service information. If you have interest in attending and would like to be kept up-to-date with scheduling, please email the family at contact@vickimardis.com.

Once services are finalized, sending flowers for the Celebration will be encouraged—she loved them. In the meantime, please consider making a contribution in Vicki's name to Operation Barnabas, a veteran's food share facilitated through Calvary Lutheran Church.

Checks may be mailed to:

Calvary Lutheran Church (Operation Barnabas)
208 Woods Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

*PLEASE NOTE: Please include Vicki's name and remember to write "Operation Barnabas" on the envelope and on the memo line of the check.