Constance "Connie" Klemens' Obituary
Constance “Connie” Elaine Zentmyer Klemens, 77, beloved wife and partner for 58 years to Andy, devoted and loving mother to son’s William A. Klemens & Timothy F. Kenney.
Sister of Sherrie E. Lammons (Charles) & CMSgt. Debbie E. Zentmyer. Daughter of the late Sgt. Major William O. Zentmyer & Libbie L. nee’ Underwood.
Sister in Law of George & Marie Klemens and John & Elisabeth Klemens. Aunt of Gary, John, Frank, Elisabeth (dec.), Michael (dec.) David, April, Brianna & Sierra,
Great-Aunt and Great-Great Aunt to many.
Connie spent the last 50 years being a mentor, teacher, and leader in the Boy Scouts of America program and was proud of her son becoming an Eagle Scout and then helping other young youth to grow and thrive in the program.
She was an extremely active person, always on the go. She played women’s softball starting in a young “House Wife’s” league in 1967 all the way to playing in the Senior League's stopping in 2018. Her friend in the House Wife's League son had Cystic Fibrosis which sent Connie on a 20 year mission of organizing & holding Bike-a-thon's, Bowl-a-thon's and weekend benefit shows, all to help raise money and awareness to the disease.
She and Andy both enjoyed bowling. They were on a Saturday couples league for over 50 years and Connie on a Ladies Thursday league up until 2023.She took tap dance classes and would then go straight to yoga class.
Connie owned/operated ABC House Cleaning for 25 years, but never worked on a Thursday because Ceramic class was in the morning and bowling in the afternoon. The ABC stood for Andy, Bill & Connie and she is always quipped “The A & B are silent~only C does all the work!”
She was a determined person, a fighter, someone who stuck by her family and friends with love and devotion. She had tremendous ethical standards of right and wrong and a strong faith in God. She and Andy ran the Youth Ministry Program at St. Paul Lutheran Church Lakewood. She was a constant caregiver and champion of any animal and of animal rights. We lost count on how many cats, dogs, birds, squirrels and Gods creatures she saved, mended and loved.
Connie was also an awesome baker & cake decorator. She made all her son’s Birthday cakes growing up, which caught the eye of friends & neighbors who would then ask her to make their children's
Birthday Cakes, Anniversary, Wedding & Baby shower cakes. Connie was a self taught seamstress and this is how she and Andy met in 1966 while working at the knitting mill Dalton Inc. in Willoughby, OH. She made most of her sons clothes growing up including 3 piece suits, Andy's 1970's leisure suits and at Christmas a new smoking jacket for her 6' 7" father. She made the patterns then sewed creating wedding & bridesmaid dresses and all other manner of clothing. She made the curtains, shears & table clothes for both her home and her son's. She was a truly talented Lady who painted ceramics, stripped all the decades of painted woodwork/floor boards/trim in their century old home and brought it back to its original stained & varnished appearance. Then set about to refinish all their antique furniture to it's original condition.
Connie’s father was in the US Army during World War II, Korea & Vietnam and due to this the family moved many times. She lived in Germany during the 1950’s and the family used weekends to visit
France, Spain, Denmark and other surrounding countries. She also lived in 6 different states growing up. The family moved the day after she graduated from La Grange Senior High School in Louisiana in June 1964, first to Toledo, OH and then Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH where they lived when her father left for Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division.
Connie & Andy also traveled to many places during their 58 years together. From small weekend trips to various Amish Country towns, Cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, Venezuela, Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Island nations. They took one 14 day back to back cruise and upon their return Connie had tanned so dark and Andy gained so much weight their Son walked right by them at the Airport pickup gate. They traveled up thru all the New England States, down the east coast, Florida every summer for years taking Bill to Disney Land multiple times, trips out west as far as California and all while driving it. The family rode horses at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and swam & boated in the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico and most of The Great Lakes. Many wonderful memories will never be forgotten.
Connie suffered a heart attack in 2023 and on May 7, 2024 she went in for open heart surgery. She spent the last 6 weeks of life in the CTICU, having one set back after another and finally her body gave out. It has been a hard shock for her family as she was so active and on the go, we never imagined we would lose her this way. She will never be forgotten. She will always be missed.
Donations in Connie’s name can be made to: Berea Animal Shelter, ASPCA or Lutheran High school West Assoc.
Berea Animal Rescue https://www.bereaanimalrescue.com/
ASPCA - https://www.aspca.org/
Lutheran High School West Association 3870 Linden Rd, Rocky River, OH 44116
Visitation will be held at Sunset Chapel, 6245 COlumbia Rd, North Olmsted Ohio 44070, on 6/26/2024 from 4-8pm. A funeral service will be help at Sunset Chapel on 6/27/2024 at 10am.
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