Dunbarton, NH – Constance “Connie” Marie Gravel a longtime resident of Manchester and Dunbarton New Hampshire passed peacefully after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was surrounded by love and leaves behind a legacy of faith service and devotion to family.
Connie was a beloved mother of six grandmother of thirteen and great-grandmother of fifteen-and counting. Family was the heart of her life and she cherished every moment spent with her children grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as her sisters Muriel and Doris and Mother Irene. Known for her warm welcome attentive listening and generous spirit Connie was always ready to sit down for a cup of coffee and a meaningful conversation.
A woman of determination and perseverance Connie earned her GED while raising six children and went on to complete a two-year nursing degree. Upon her graduation all six of her children proudly pinned her. She began her nursing career as an occupational nurse at Prevue Products and later served in Cardiac Care and the Intensive Care Unit at Catholic Medical Center where her compassion and steady presence touched many lives. After years in nursing Connie found a new calling as a business owner and advocate for injured workers. She founded a company dedicated to helping employees navigate the workers’ compensation process and later sold the company to retire.
In retirement Connie devoted her time to her faith and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish community serving on the staff and in Faith Formation. She especially loved teaching children and had a gift for engaging even the most challenging groups with patience creativity and care.
Connie loved traveling camping snowmobiling sailing and spending time by the water. Her travels included Denali National Park a train journey through British Columbia two trips to Israel and family adventures to Washington D.C. New Mexico North Carolina Texas and Florida. Despite the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease Connie remained tenacious and courageous. During this time she discovered a love for art and became an avid artist expressing her enduring spirit through creativity.
Connie was and will always be a truly special person with a beautiful spirit. She inspired many in her family to pursue careers in nursing and lived her life as a quiet example of compassion faith and service. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday Feb. 13 at 10AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 180 Loudon Road, Concord.
Burial will follow at 12PM at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, in Boscawen.
In lieu of flowers the family invites you to honor Connie’s memory by contributing to the Constance M. Gravel Nursing Scholarship established to support students who face the same educational and life challenges she overcame with determination and faith. Donations may be made online through GoFundMe at http://spot.fund/jzbp53zce OR by mailing a check payable to Constance M. Gravel Nursing Scholarship at The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges (FNHCC) 26 College Dr. Concord NH 03301.
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