Constance Schepens

Constance (Connie) Schepens (Dec 4, 1926 – Dec 30, 2024)
Connie went to Christ peacefully at her home of more than 70 years. She was the oldest of five children. Connie was born in New York City, grew up in the Bronx and attended Cathedral High School. She attended Comptometer School and received an associate's degree in Drafting. During WWII she supported the war effort as a draftsman. She was the sole woman working along a group of twenty men designing pilot houses for naval vessels. She considered joining the convent during her youth, but those plans ended after meeting Salvador Schepens at the Port and Starboard Club. Here she hosted parties for WWII and post WWII service men. Connie always joked that she was known as the 'Hostess with the Mostest'. Connie and Sal were frow two different worlds. Connie a street smart New York savvy gal and Sal who grow up in near poverty in Gulfport Mississippi. But it was a match that would last 68 years of marriage.
They bought a farm in Delaware and started their adventures. Having an entrepreneur spirit, along with the farm they started laundromats, other coin operated businesses, and a family. Connie was the backbone of these businesses. She would often share how she would have to rob from Peter to pay Paul, to keep the businesses afloat. She alone would bear the financial pressures of these businesses.
Always being of service, Connie was an active member to the Lady's Auxiliary at the Immaculate Conception Church in Maydel, for years she was a Hospice volunteer caring for those aiding in a peaceful transition and providing a summer retreat for fresh air kids. A sign in her home stated, "There are no strangers here only friends we have not met" another in the kitchen showed a family of rabbits eating around the dinner table with the caption reading "Those that work get results". Connie did not mince words, if you started to yarn a story or got 'too big for your britches' you were met with the "that's a bunch of bull" or the infamous "whatever".
Connie loved the social life also, she was in the bowling league at Ceasar Rodney, enjoyed hosting partes on the farm and working at church functions like the church Bazaar and Oyster Dinner. She helped young couples through marriage encounters and arranged several trips to New York to see the sights with her friends.
On the farm Connie and Sal raised six boys; Roy (Susan), Dave (Donna), Neal (Diane), Bruce, Carl (Susan), Wayne (Jennifer) and one daughter Barbara (Tom). Connie's grandchildren include Cissy, Mike, Brian, Pat, Brandi, Laura, Clare, Justin, Chrissi, Erika, Bradley, Ellie, Nick, and Meredith. Connie has nineteen great grandchildren.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents Conrad and Viola Guthorn, her brother Robert, her sister Viola, her sons Bruce and Dave, and granddaughters, Kara and Lynn
Connie's life was active, purposeful and a tribute to the grit of her generation. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St Jude Hospital for Children. We would like to express a special thanks to Brenda Utberg Deibel and Daniela Hunt for their loving care.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at the Marydel Fire Hall, 110 Firehouse Ln, from 2-5pm.
The mass of Catholic burial will be held at 8:30am on Monday, January 20, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Church, 522 Main St, Marydel. Interment services will be held at 10am on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd, Bear.