June 2, 1945 – February 6, 2024
Connie Gleason, CSJ died in the early morning hours of February 6, 2024, at Episcopal Homes in St. Paul. She was a devoted family member, a wonderful teacher, a selfless caregiver, and a woman of deep faith. She was born Mary Constance on June 2, 1945, to Judge Donald W. and Geraldine (Wetli) Gleason in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Inspired by her first-grade teacher, Connie knew that she wanted to become both a Catholic sister and a teacher. She first entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in the St. Louis Province in 1963. Her educational path included a bachelor of arts in education from Fontbonne College in St. Louis (1971) and a master of arts in special education from
Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee (1977).
Connie was first missioned as an elementary school teacher at St. Joseph in West DePere, Wisconsin; Holy Angels in Indianapolis; and the Menominee Indian Reservation in Keshena, Wisconsin. It was there that she truly flourished as a special needs teacher for the Native American community of students she grew to love so dearly. She continued to share her gifts at St. Francis de Sales in Denver and at St. Anthony in Neopit, Wisconsin. She spent the next 17 years at St. Michael in West St. Paul, and during that time, she decided to transfer to our St. Paul Province in 1995.
Her last mission was at Learning in Style in Minneapolis, where she patiently and lovingly taught English as a second language to adults seeking citizenship.
Through it all, Connie was the consummate caregiver, most especially for her brother Casey and later for her aging father. Her joyful smile and generous heart will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Connie is preceded in death by her parents and brothers Kelly and Casey Gleason. She is survived by her sister Nanci (Don) Maes; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, many dear friends, colleagues, and Sisters of St. Joseph and consociates.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., in Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel, 1884 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, with burial following at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights.
Memorials are preferred to the Ministries Foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Dear Connie, rest in love and peace.
Rest in peace, sister, Carmen
Rest in peace my dear friend. We met in Indpls. when Connie taught there. We stayed in touch writing letters and email. I did not know that she had passed. I think about her a lot.
Rest easy my friend. I will never forget you
Love
Marie