Claudette Konzen

KONZEN

Claudette M. M.D.



An iridescent light; a beacon of fortitude; creativity; love; spirituality; selflessness; service; intelligence; and most importantly - compassion - characterize this exquisite and elegant 78 year old wife, mother, sister and physician.

This "pearl of greatest beauty" passed away on December 30, 2014, at the Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas. Over the past 3 years, she had been limited by stroke and its complications. Her passing was peaceful and with grace. Her greatest wish had ultimately reached its pinnacle -- her entire family was present and united.

Claudette. A true Northern Spirit, was born on February 13, 1936, in Kapuskasing, Ontario. Her parents were Eugene and Dorina (Maurice) Parent. Siblings included Maurice (Gerlinde) Parent, Dolores (Desmond) Bender, Michel (Aline) Parent, and Louise (Lucie Vandal) Parent.

Claudette, always the scholar, completed her baccalaureate training in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada. In the year of 1954, she obtained not only highest academic standing in her graduating class, but receipt of the Kimberly-Clark Academic Scholarship. This financial security allowed her to contemplate her ultimate calling, Medicine. With completion of her Grade 13 studies, she was immediately accepted by the University of Ottawa Medical School, an accomplishment unheard of at the time for either men or especially women. She graduated with her peers (only 4 being women) in 1959. During her medical studies, Claudette met her spouse of 55 years, Jon Leo Konzen, M.D. The couple was married in the Immaculate Conception Church, Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada on August 15, 1959.

Both Claudette and her husband then completed their internship year of medical training at Akron City Hospital, Akron, Ohio USA.

Two sons, Jon Pierre and Michael Jon, joined the fledgling family in 1960 and 1961 respectively. In 1962 a third son, Benedict was born while Claudette and Jon were involved in the United States Military Medical Services. Their fourth child, Dolores Anne-Marie was born in 1963 with their subsequent transfer to Edgewater, Maryland. With completion of military duties, the young couple with 4 children in tow, arrived in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Here both Claudette and Jon completed Masters of Public Health while pursuing additional medical residency training at the University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor. Claudette undertook a multiple year residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation -- under the tutelage of James Rae, M.D -- founding Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. George Koepke, Dr. Smith and Dr. Bender.

With completion of 1964, Claudette and Jon, introduced the last member of the Konzen clan, Charles M. Konzen.

By 1968, the family had moved to Toledo, Ohio. Claudette had accepted the position of Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, Michigan). During her 15 year tenure there, she fell in love with service to the injured veterans of World Wars I, II and the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts. She was a force in the practical world of prosthetics, orthotics and a return of patients to ambulatory/physical status.

Claudette's ultimate concern was for the well-being of her patients. She would travel 90 miles round trip, through rain, sleet and snow to get to work. She worked tirelessly for her patients, much to the chagrin of her family. That's right, dinner was usually served at 9 p.m. She also staffed the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic concurrently in Toledo, Ohio while it remained in operation on Glendale Avenue near the current University of Toledo Medical Center.

Claudette maintained Emeritus Status through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario; Board Certifications in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; as well as Specialty Certification in Electrodiagnostic Medicine. She had maintained medical licensure through the State Boards of Michigan, Ohio and Vermont. Dr. Konzen also participated in professional medical societies at the local, state and national levels.

In 1983, Claudette joined the rehabilitative practice of Shang Rhee and Associates, Toledo, Ohio. During that time period, she reached out not only to American Veterans, but the community at large. Her professionalism, intelligence, generosity, empathy and compassion were never in short supply. Claudette served the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan regions. She was involved in the education of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residents through the University of Toledo Medical Center, Flower Hospital (Sylvania, Ohio) and St. Charles Hospitals (Oregon, Ohio).

Retiring from active medical practice in 1992, Claudette and her husband took on a new passion -- being together and enjoying travel, grandchildren, and summer trips to their Remi Lake cottage. Travels also included trips to Europe, Central America, and Alaska. However, the most exciting trips were always to their kids' homes to see the grandchildren, the school plays, the piano/instrument recitals, the dance/ballet/ice-skating performances, or that Friday fish-fry!

Perhaps known especially to her family and closest friends in the Teams of Our Lady (Detroit Chapter), Claudette was, in the parlance of St. Francis, "a channel of [His] peace." She believed in the simplicity of God's love and his presence being in all individuals. Her generosity was multi-fold. Hers had been a life of acceptance, faith, service and ultimate trust in God. Truly, where there had been strife, anger and hopelessness, she seamlessly tempered the "unsolvable" with love and a smiling radiance.

Claudette is survived by her husband, Jon L. Konzen, M.D.; children, Jon Pierre (Tan) Konzen, D.O. (Eau Claire, Wisconsin), Michael J. (Julie) Konzen (Eau Claire Wisconsin), Benedict S. Konzen, M.D. (Houston, Texas), Anne-Marie (Nicholas) Cardilino (Kettering, Ohio), Charles M. (Patricia) Konzen (Grafton, Wisconsin), and 15 grandchildren, along with one very special great-grandson.

Claudette also is survived by her siblings, Dolores Parent (Desmond Bender) of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and Louis Pierre Parent (Lucie Vandal) of Hull, Quebec, Canada. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Dorina Parent, and brothers, Maurice and Michel Parent.

Visitation will be limited to a Memorial Observation in the Narthex of St. Joan of Arc Church, Holland, Ohio, USA on Friday, February 13, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. with a Memorial Mass immediately following. Funeral services will be officiated by Fr. Joel Konzen.

Interment (Summer, 2015) will be at Kapuskasing Cemetery, Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada. Remembrances may be made to The Little Sisters of the Poor, Oregon, Ohio, USA. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Sujkowski Funeral Home of Rossford. To leave online expressions of sympathy for the family, please visit:

www.sujkowskirossford.com