Constance Marie (Ryan) Johnson, 69, passed away on October 8th at Brookdale care facility in Stevens Point, Wis.

Connie was born to William “Joseph” and Agnes Ryan in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada on November 23, 1946. She attended school in Lower South River and St. Andrew’s High School. Connie grew up on a dairy farm in South Side Harbour and spent a lot of time helping out with the farm chores along with her nine siblings.

Connie belonged to the 4-H Club and spent many happy hours competing her calves in exhibition. Connie also took voice and piano lessons, and participated in many musical events with her sisters while growing up. After high school, Connie moved to Boston, Mass. to work as a nanny. There she met her husband, Jesse Gene Johnson.

Jesse and Connie married on December 26, 1964 and, over a three-year period, moved from Boston, Mass.; to Milwaukee, Wis.; to Niagara, Wis.. Connie and Jesse raised their 7 children in Niagara until 1997, when they needed to move to Stevens Point, Wis. for Jesse’s job with the railroad, where the youngest three children completed their education.

Connie loved being a wife and mother. She also wore many other hats in the various jobs she worked through the years: drafter, waitress, tax preparer, religious education coordinator aide, caretaker, cleaning person, school cafeteria aide, and for many years as a school bus driver.

Connie was an exuberant person and enjoyed keeping busy. As such, she was also involved in a women’s bowling league; aerobic classes; visiting with friends and neighbors; prayer groups; church choirs; catechist; Communion Distributor; and on October 15, 2002 she became a definitively professed member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites of the Holy Cross in Iron Mountain, Mich., where prayer became part of her life’s work.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Agnes Ryan. As a loving wife and mother, Connie’s family was always the center of her energies and prayers. Connie is survived by her husband of 51 years, Jesse; her six sisters and three brothers; her five sons: Gregory Johnson of Suffolk, VA; Kevin Johnson of Plover, Wis.; Michael Johnson of Niagara, Wis.; Neil (Dawn) Johnson of Niagara, Wis.; David (Abigail) Johnson of Stevens Point, Wis.; her two daughters: Maria (Kevin) Bacon of Stevens Point, Wis.; and Patricia (Ryan) Squires of Madison, Wis. She also is survived by her 18 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, October 11 at the Boston Funeral Home, 1649 Briggs St. Stevens Point, from 4 PM to 6 PM, with rosary at 5:45 PM.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 12 at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1401 Clark St. Stevens Point at 11 AM with a one-hour visitation just prior to the funeral. Burial will be at the St. Stephen Catholic Cemetery in Stevens Point. Online condolences may be made at www.bostonfuneralhome.net.