Connie Lorraine Nelson
Apr. 26, 1955 – Oct. 27, 2022
Connie Lorraine Nelson (nee MacKenzie) went home to be with her Lord after a courageous battle with cancer on Thursday October 27, 2022 at age 67.
Connie was born and raised in Calgary, the second oldest of six girls. She married Frank Matthews, a British soldier who was doing military training in Canada and they were married in 1976 and three children were born. After her marriage ended, she worked for a few years in Calgary, then Ponoka, before moving to Lethbridge to take her teaching degree. With limited funds, late night studies, do-it-yourself home repairs, and middle-of-the-night emergency visits with asthmatic kids, she graduated in 1988 with her degree.
Connie and her children moved to Duchess where she started off as a kindergarten teacher. The church in Duchess opened their arms to Connie and her children and they became family. Connie found love and acceptance within the church and true lifelong friends who helped and supported her as she raised her children alone and taught full time. Eventually she moved up to teaching Grades 1-3. She would later teach in Tilley, Airdrie, Brooks and lastly Red Deer before retiring in June 2016.
In her younger years, Connie liked to hike in the mountains with her children. In particular, she loved the big night sky where she could watch the stars.
It was a blind date in November 2006 that took her to Red Deer as it was love at first sight and Connie and Doug Nelson were married in Red Deer on July 6, 2007. She soon became a most loved person in her ‘new family’, new church, new school, and new community of friends in Red Deer.
She loved teaching and rejoiced as each student reached their reading grade level or conquered timed math facts. An example of Connie’s impact on touching lives was when students she had taught in Duchess in Grades 1, 2 and 3 invited her back to be the guest speaker at their grade 12 graduation.
She liked to bake and especially delighted in teaching her children and grandchildren, some as early as three years old.
Her commitment was to Jesus Christ and His love shone through her onto everyone who met or knew Connie. Connie most of all found joy in doing things for others whether that was cooking a meal, reading stories to kids, listening, consoling others, or filing government papers on behalf of permanent residents or refugees. Connie put everyone above herself without thought or hesitation, even when she was in pain and suffering herself.
Connie will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 15 years, Doug Nelson; her children, Krista Matthews, Aaron (Chrystal) Matthews, Cheney Matthews; grandchildren Tyson Penrod, Cheyenna Penrod; stepchildren, Joel (Jamie) Nelson, Deirdre (Timothy) Hann; grandchildren Tristan Nelson, Lucas Nelson, Carrington Hann, Leighton Hann. She will also be dearly missed by her mother Florence MacKenzie, sisters Donna (Clay) Robinson, Carol (Gary) Henderson, Linda (Rob) Fauth, Christina (Mike) Klassen; sisters-in-law Joyce Webster, Brenda Schimke; nieces, nephews and numerous other family members and friends.
Connie was predeceased by her father Murdo MacKenzie (2018), sister Margaret MacKenzie (1974) and brother-in-law Dennis Schimke (2011).
Donations in Connie’s name can be made to Red Deer Hospice, Hope Mission or Mustard Seed.
Celebration of Life took place Tues. Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. at Deer Park Alliance Church, 2960 – 39 St. Red Deer, Alberta. Her interment was on Wed. Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Coronation Cemetery in Coronation, Alta.
Eventide Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. 403-347-2222; www.arbormemorial.ca/en/eventide
