Obituary of Connie Levesque

It is with sadness that the family of Mary Constance "Connie" Levesque of Fredericton announces her passing at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at the age of 99. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, on October 8, 1925, she was the wife of the late Paul Carmel Levesque. 

Connie leaves behind her children, Terrence J. Levesque (Janet) of Waterloo, ON, Christopher B. Levesque (Sheryl Anne Petrie) of Moncton, NB, Paul C. Levesque (Vanessa) of Fredericton, NB, Rene Levesque (Brenda) of Sackville, NB, Kathleen Levesque (Todd Abram) of Medway, Mass., and Michel Levesque (Denise) of Bedford, NS; grandchildren, Robert Levesque (Kathryn) of Toronto, ON, Elizabeth Strickland (Jeff) of Liberty Hills, TX, Danielle Levesque (Christopher Baxter) of Toronto, ON, Christopher J. Levesque of Bedford, NS, Michelle  Levesque of Fredericton and Christopher Abram of Medway, Mass; great-grandchildren, Haley and Carter Strickland, Finn and Rory Rose Baxter, and Cassie Gabriella Levesque. In addition to her husband, Paul, Constance was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Kathleen
(Doherty) Hazel; brother, Grattan Hazel, as well as grandchildren, Catherine and Michael Levesque of Waterloo, ON. 

Connie grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick among a large extended family of Hazels, Gallaghers, Dohertys, and Robertsons. She graduated from Saint Vincent’s High School in 1942. She earned a teacher’s certificate at Normal School in Fredericton. While residing at Rosary Hall, Connie met a young electrical engineering student, Paul Levesque, from Clair. They married in 1947, and in 1950 settled in Fredericton where Paul was appointed Manager of Power Distribution at the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission. 

By 1961, Connie was mother to five sons and one daughter, living in the family home on York Street, Fredericton, and doing the most important work that parents undertake, setting the next generation on the path to being good, worthy adults.

The Levesques were St. Dunstan’s Church parishioners. Connie was an active member of the Catholic Women’s League.

Connie was an avid contract bridge player all her life. She played in CWL marathons, hosted bridge parties at home, and later in life could be found regularly on the first floor of Regent Hall sharing a game with friends. At 93 Connie would drive many of her fellow players to their bridge games at Monsignor Boyd Family Center. 

Connie and Paul shared a long interest in golf. Golf became a Levesque family avocation and Connie, with her perseverance, was the first of the family to record a hole-in-one. Connie lived along the third hole of the Fredericton Golf Club and when she gave up her golfing at a late stage of her life, she continued to stay connected to her fellow golfers by watching from her deck and waving to her friends as they played through the third hole. During the broadcast of major PGA golf tournaments, Connie’s golf friends would gather at her Shannex apartment to watch the games on her big screen television, share stories and sip their martinis.

Connie loved to travel. After Paul’s death in 2000, she made several trips to Europe with Christopher, Sheryl Anne and her good friend Pat Cochrane. Of course, she loved Ireland, home of her ancestors. She did advise against any attempt to kiss the Blarney Stone.

Connie was a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She delighted in the news of the children’s first steps, growing up and accomplishments as they became young adults, married couples and parents themselves. 

Connie will be remembered as a well read, outgoing and engaging person who could and would strike up a conversation with anyone she met. She could talk to you about any topic but her favorite ones were politics and world news.

The family sends its gratitude to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital and especially the Palliative Care team of 3 East for the respectful and considerate support they provided to our beloved Mom. Special thanks to Jacqueline Hebert-Boucher and Wendy Boulter for the compassionate support and care that they provided and to Peg Donovan and Marg Routledge for their visits that meant so much to her.

There will be no service at this time. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the spring at a time to be announced. For those who wish, donations in Connie’s memory may be made to Fredericton Community Kitchen and Hospice Fredericton.