Constance "Connie" Walsh

Constance Catherine (McConnell) Walsh Connie Walsh, age ninety-seven, went to Heaven on August 25th, 2025 while a resident at Samaritan Bethany in Rochester. Mom was born in Rochester on January 23rd, 1928 to Samuel McConnell and Catherine (Marum) McConnell. She lived on the farm in Orion Township and went to the one room country school close to home, District #117, until 8th grade, followed by Chatfield High School, graduating from there in 1946. She worked for Olmsted County for a couple years after graduation and attended Rochester Junior College for a time too. She entered the Saint Mary's School of Nursing and graduated as a Registered Nurse with the Class of 1952. She worked as an RN at St. Mary's Hospital, for a short time in California, and then at Methodist Hospital. She met a school teacher named Paul R. Walsh in Rochester through "The Dominics" club at St. Francis Church, and they were married in Rochester on December 28th, 1963. They enjoyed over fifty-six years together until Dad passed on August 16th, 2020. After marrying they moved to Darrington, Washington where Dad taught school until moving back to Minnesota when he took a job teaching at Wells-Easton High School. They lived in Wells and then later outside Easton. Mom was a nurse at the Wells Municipal Hospital for three decades until retiring in the early 1990's. Being a nurse was something Mom always enjoyed and was always proud of, and she enjoyed attending St. Mary's Nursing School reunions. In retirement Mom and Dad lived in Chatfield and Arizona then Rochester. Over the years she enjoyed seeing and being with her kids and grand-kids and siblings, visiting with relatives and friends, trips to casinos for penny slots, playing cards with Bridge being her game of choice with friends and bridge clubs until her vision was too poor. She loved lunches with friends and staying in touch with them, time in the garden and canning, quilting, and playing bingo. She was a long-time American Legion Auxiliary member and a Past President of the unit in Easton. She was a gentle person who enjoyed helping others. When Dad's health failed, she was his dedicated care-giver to the end, a true example of love for and caring for others. Her Catholic faith was a central part of Mom's life and saying the rosary was an important thing for her until the end. Mom was preceded in death by her little son Brian in 1969 of cancer, her parents, and all her siblings and their spouses; brothers Jerome (Dorothy), Nic (Margaret), Jean (Katherine), Lawrence (Hazel), Fabian (Ethel), Sylvester "Red" (Charlotte), Matt (Rita and Betty), and sister Trudy Nelson (John), as well as brother-in-law Vlad Rayer. She is survived by daughters Barb Kirchhof and significant other Mike Bruce, Deb Rappold and husband Tony, sons Pete and wife Jill, and Mike and wife Emily. She also is survived by grandchildren Aaron and Brandon (fiancé Dani Heiland) Kirchhof, Anthony (Emma), Emily and Bill Rappold, Ciara and Connor Walsh, and Haley Walsh. Also surviving are step-grandchildren Ali, Kristen, BJ and Brad Halvorson, and Maddie, Macey, and Myles Heiland. She would have been a Great-Grandmother in October 2025 to Baby Boy Rappold (Anthony & Emma). Sister-in-law Jean Rayer also survives her, as well as many nieces and nephews. Mom will be greatly missed. A special thanks to the staff at Arbor Terrace and Samaritan Bethany for their compassion and care for Mom in her last few years. Thank you also to Mayo Hospice staff and St. Pius Church and staff. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 11:30 a.m. Friday, August 29, 2025 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1315 2th Ave. NW, Rochester. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until time of Mass. Burial will be at Carrolton Cemetery in Fountain, MN. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.mackenfuneralhome.com