Connie Wittman
1958-11-13 2008-08-13
Connie M. Wittman, 49, Lewiston
Connie found the peace she courageously earned after her valiant battle with cancer Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008. Her courage, her selflessness and her strength were not only an inspiration to those around her during these last months, they were characteristics she portrayed throughout her life.
Connie came into this world Nov. 13, 1958, in Moscow to parents George and Janice Smith. She was raised in Troy and later moved with her family to Lewiston. While in high school, Connie worked for A&W and Family Foods. She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1977 and then went on to work in the grocery industry.
After a little help from her older brother Roger, she met and married his best friend Mark Wittman on July 2, 1977, who was soon to become her best friend. The two newlyweds celebrated the beginning of their adventurous lives together honeymooning at Grangeville Border Days.
Connie and Mark started their family in 1980 with the birth of their first daughter Rachel Annette, followed by Jessica Rae in 1982. She welcomed motherhood with the same patience, perseverance and passion she had so well tuned at such a young age.
Connie was magnificent in juggling family, work and household obligations with never a complaint, and always a smile. Her love for her family was her driving force. It was not surprising to find her helping her husband change a rear end in the winter time on the South Fork for a customer, although her day was never finished until her family was joined together at the dinner table. For her girls, there was no limit, whether it was 4-H, softball, gymnastics, basketball, or the trials of raising teens, she never missed a beat. After her girls graduated she continued to support each of them in their endeavors. She would send care packages to Rachel and her crew in Yellowstone, and was known to Jesse's squadron as M.O.M. (mother of Marines) with her endless supply of cookies and goodies for every holiday. Throughout her life she dedicated herself to her mother Janice, Grammie Croson and the needs of many others.
She loved cooking, planting her serenity garden, thrift store shopping, and most of all, camping at Kelly Creek. She had an amazing talent in the kitchen and enjoyed cooking for gatherings large or small. She was able to make a delicious meal out of whatever Mark brought home. Her grandsons, Connor and Logan, especially loved the time they spent in the kitchen with their Nana making cookies.
For the last 20 years, Connie worked as an independent contractor installing laminate on thousands of square feet of counter tops throughout the valley and surrounding areas. She was the best in the business and prided herself as being a "counterfitter," a comment sure to bring a laugh in the crowd. Her tenacious work ethic along with her attention to detail was highly regarded amongst her peers and customers. She volunteered her services for a number of Habitat for Humanity projects, as well as family and friends.
Connie leaves behind the following family, her husband of 31 years, Mark; daughters Rachel Faling and husband Adam, and Jessica Wittman; a great-grandmother, Alma Croson; father George Smith; brothers, Jake Smith and wife Peggy Johnson, all of Lewiston, and Roger Smith of Coeur d'Alene; grandsons Connor, Logan and Mason Faling, all of Lewiston. Her extended family members, Marvin and Helen Wittman, Dick and Dawn Wittman, Barb Cravens, Rebecca and David Bolin, Kristine and Steve Marvich, Kurt and Pam Wittman, John and Mary Wittman, Kelly and Cliff Schaeffer, sister, Deb Wilkerson, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.
Connie was preceded in death by her mother, Janice; her grandfather Dutch Croson; and her brother-in-law David Wittman.
A vigil service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday at St. James Catholic Church. A celebration of her life will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. James.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Valley Boys and Girls Club.
Connie found the peace she courageously earned after her valiant battle with cancer Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008. Her courage, her selflessness and her strength were not only an inspiration to those around her during these last months, they were characteristics she portrayed throughout her life.
Connie came into this world Nov. 13, 1958, in Moscow to parents George and Janice Smith. She was raised in Troy and later moved with her family to Lewiston. While in high school, Connie worked for A&W and Family Foods. She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1977 and then went on to work in the grocery industry.
After a little help from her older brother Roger, she met and married his best friend Mark Wittman on July 2, 1977, who was soon to become her best friend. The two newlyweds celebrated the beginning of their adventurous lives together honeymooning at Grangeville Border Days.
Connie and Mark started their family in 1980 with the birth of their first daughter Rachel Annette, followed by Jessica Rae in 1982. She welcomed motherhood with the same patience, perseverance and passion she had so well tuned at such a young age.
Connie was magnificent in juggling family, work and household obligations with never a complaint, and always a smile. Her love for her family was her driving force. It was not surprising to find her helping her husband change a rear end in the winter time on the South Fork for a customer, although her day was never finished until her family was joined together at the dinner table. For her girls, there was no limit, whether it was 4-H, softball, gymnastics, basketball, or the trials of raising teens, she never missed a beat. After her girls graduated she continued to support each of them in their endeavors. She would send care packages to Rachel and her crew in Yellowstone, and was known to Jesse's squadron as M.O.M. (mother of Marines) with her endless supply of cookies and goodies for every holiday. Throughout her life she dedicated herself to her mother Janice, Grammie Croson and the needs of many others.
She loved cooking, planting her serenity garden, thrift store shopping, and most of all, camping at Kelly Creek. She had an amazing talent in the kitchen and enjoyed cooking for gatherings large or small. She was able to make a delicious meal out of whatever Mark brought home. Her grandsons, Connor and Logan, especially loved the time they spent in the kitchen with their Nana making cookies.
For the last 20 years, Connie worked as an independent contractor installing laminate on thousands of square feet of counter tops throughout the valley and surrounding areas. She was the best in the business and prided herself as being a "counterfitter," a comment sure to bring a laugh in the crowd. Her tenacious work ethic along with her attention to detail was highly regarded amongst her peers and customers. She volunteered her services for a number of Habitat for Humanity projects, as well as family and friends.
Connie leaves behind the following family, her husband of 31 years, Mark; daughters Rachel Faling and husband Adam, and Jessica Wittman; a great-grandmother, Alma Croson; father George Smith; brothers, Jake Smith and wife Peggy Johnson, all of Lewiston, and Roger Smith of Coeur d'Alene; grandsons Connor, Logan and Mason Faling, all of Lewiston. Her extended family members, Marvin and Helen Wittman, Dick and Dawn Wittman, Barb Cravens, Rebecca and David Bolin, Kristine and Steve Marvich, Kurt and Pam Wittman, John and Mary Wittman, Kelly and Cliff Schaeffer, sister, Deb Wilkerson, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.
Connie was preceded in death by her mother, Janice; her grandfather Dutch Croson; and her brother-in-law David Wittman.
A vigil service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday at St. James Catholic Church. A celebration of her life will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. James.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Valley Boys and Girls Club.