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Sister Connie, 1935 - 2020

5/22/2020

 
​by Mark Ely
Photos of Sister Connie from 2005+
We are deeply saddened to hear of the unexpected passing of Sister Connie of the Maryknoll Contemplative Community in Lemoa, Guatemala.  Connie was a source of inspiration and hope to countless people in both Guatemala and the United States. Her incredibly generous and ecumenical spirit will be missed profoundly.

Connie lived life on her own terms, and those terms were tough.  She had strong opinions and delivered them in an even stronger Bronx accent.  She had no patience for greed and corruption.  She felt that change in Guatemala was only going to come from the bottom up.
Picture
Sister Connie in November, 2018.
Unlike many opinionated people, she put her money where her mouth was.  She dedicated her life to helping those in extreme need.  And she got a lot done.

​She was building homes for poor families in Lemoa long before we started, and our own home-building program was based on her work up to that point.  She knew widows and orphans from the civil war, and always had a list of the neediest.  She put us in contact with local leadership to help identify schools that needed better facilities.  More recently, she helped start a nutrition program in Lemoa which is doing great work.
I consider myself fortunate to have spent so much time in Connie's company.  She was one of those rare people who change the course of your life without you knowing it.  I will miss her deeply.

​Biography
Constance Pospisil joined the Maryknoll order on February 12, 1957, as a nurse from Rockville Centre, N.Y.  She began work in Chile in 1961 in clinics and in community-based health education programs.  In 1982 she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in New York.  In 1989 Sister Connie was assigned to Brazil, where she worked to establish a health center for women on the northeast coast.  Sister Connie joined the Maryknoll Contemplative Community in Lemoa, Guatemala in 2004, where with Sister Helen Werner she maintained a prayer presence.  She also started a number of initiatives to help community members improve their lives. ​​ Connie was a board member of our local Pura Vida NGO in Guatemala.

[ Photos of Sister Connie from 2005+ ]
Lela Criswell
5/22/2020 05:24:54 pm

I am so very sorry for your loss, Mark. Sister Connie must have been an angel on this earth, she did so much to help. Please convey our condolences to Sister Helen and all the staff and community in Lemoa so affected by her loss.

Daniel O'Meara
5/22/2020 05:32:10 pm

Thank you for sharing the news- Sister Connie- she was a powerful and courageous woman on this earth. We will continue to pray for Helen and others who grieve losing her here. We will see her again with the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven. That I have no doubt.

Jennifer Winterfeld
5/22/2020 05:32:31 pm

I'm so sorry for our loss, Mark's loss, Guatemala's loss and the loss to humankind. I will remember Sister Connie handing out lemonade and spending some time washing her windows on my first trip to Lemoa. She truly lived the life of service. She inspires me!

Mary Gay
5/22/2020 05:35:59 pm

Each of the times I got to be in Sister Connie and Sister Helen’s presence I was better because I got to be inspired by them. I cannot imagine how your heart and that of Leslie’s are broken with shock and sadness. My prayers are for y’all and very much for Sister Helen. I believe Sister Connie is singing in heaven and will be watching over all of her Guatemalan families from above.

Jean Ives
5/22/2020 05:44:15 pm

I did not know Sister Connie, but now I feel as though I did. She is one of the Cloud of Witnesses who will bring about a better life for all.

Beverly Winsett
5/22/2020 06:16:37 pm

One of the highlights from my two trips to Lemoa was being hosted for refreshments and learning from Sister Connie and Sister Helen. Talk about inspiring! My sympathy to all there who loved Sister Connie. She touched many lives.

Darcy Palmer
5/22/2020 07:05:31 pm

What a lovely compassionate lady. She had a twinkle in her eye each time she brought our teams lemonade. She was a very wise woman, but she lives on both in heaven and in all those she helped and all those she inspired.

Bob Utter
5/22/2020 08:47:38 pm

Our own Mother Teresa. She will live on in our hearts forever.

Carla Schwartzkopf
5/22/2020 11:11:42 pm

One of the highlights of our trip to Lemoa was visiting Sister Connie and Sister Helen. Sharing refreshments and listening to stories. She was an amazing women who’s compassion for others was endless. She will be greatly missed.

Susy Quinlan
5/23/2020 07:24:01 am

I'm sorry for this loss for you Mark, Leslie and the community in Lemoa. Although I never met sister Connie I appreciate the work and love to the needs of many in my country. May God's peace find all griefing hearts.

Chris Mikesell
5/23/2020 08:07:19 am

Sister Connie was one of my strongest early memories of Guatemala. I was blessed to spend a work day with the sisters at their center. Intelligent and witty, I was moved to laughter and tears most of the day. I was amazed at the strength of their bodies & spirit. When I returned on my second trip, Connie greeted me with a hug and smile, engaging in conversation as if I had never left.
And all she wanted me to send were chocolate chips (we introduced her to digital library checkout for books).
I am blessed to have known her. She planted a seed in me that continues to grow. She will be greatly missed, but her work will continue in the hands of those she touched. Thank you Sister Connie.

Ray Miller link
5/23/2020 04:01:54 pm

Sister Connie was a great incarnation of what I understand it means to be a Christian. Her devotion is a model of faithfulness. Thank you to the mission and ministry that marked her life. will be with me as long as I live. Thank you Sister Connie.

Jon Schmidt
5/23/2020 04:02:50 pm

Prayers for an amazing lady!

Unbelievable the things she and Sister Helen have accomplished to enrich the lives of the communities they serve.

Sister Connie’s spirt made all things possible in their beloved corner of the world, Lemoa, and the surrounding communities.

She was a leader by example, and one most of us can only hope to emulate in our words and deeds.

Prayers for Sister Helen in her time of sorrow. I find peace in knowing sister Connie is with her Lord and Savior; and we will all join her in Gods presence some day !

My tears as I write this are of joy for having the great fortune to have know and been inspired by such an extraordinary human as Sister Connie !

Anna Pouliou
5/24/2020 03:18:20 pm

I feel deeply sad at the news but also very fortunate to have met Sister Connie. She was an angel among humans and went back to God’s loving arms. You will be deeply missed Sister Connie. I last saw you in 2016 and I wish I could have been there again. My thoughts go to Sister Helen and the Lemoa community for your loss. God bless your beautiful soul.

Gary Conner
5/24/2020 04:00:41 pm

What a special person Sister Connie. I also looked forward to our visits with the Sisters in Lemoa. Lemonade and chocolate chip cookies. And to hear the Sisters tell of theit lives and the history of Lemoa and Guatemala. My heart goes out to Sister Helen. I cherish the memories of my trips to Guatemala.

Richard Ely
5/24/2020 04:30:55 pm

Visiting Sister Connie and Sister Helen has always been a big part of my trips to Guatemala. Always gracious and welcoming, a visit to the Maryknoll Community was a highlight of every trip. I remember how Connie and Helen housed and fed Mark during his early trips to The Highlands; how they came to Mark and Lesley's wedding in Antigua; and how they walked along with Linda and me as we distributed dried milk to the families in Lemoa. One of my favorite pictures of my Guatemala trips was of happy children on the steps of Maryknoll. Pura Vida is blessed by the relationship that was established with sister Connie and sister Helen.

Bonnie Twilling
5/28/2020 10:08:18 am

I am so sad to hear about Sister Connie. I had the privilege of meeting her 10 years ago while on an adult mission trip with Mark and Leslye and my daughter, Cami. She had a birthday party for Helen's 90th birthday and when she asked if anyone wanted coffee(in her back east accent) I really teased her. She got a kick out of that and we really had fun. She was so very special to so many people and will be missed by all.


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