Constance “Connie” Fraser
February 25, 1938 - August 21, 2021
Constance “Connie” Fraser, 83, passed away August 21, 2021. She was born Feb 25, 1938 in Yakima, WA to Don and Bernita Fraser. She moved with her family to Seattle in 1945, where she grew up and graduated from Ballard High School in 1956. Connie attended the UW where she earned a letter in women’s field hockey and received a BA in Physical Education in 1960 and her teaching degree in 1969. After college, Connie taught in California for a few years and then came back to Washington to teach at Sacred Heart School in Bellevue. It was then she joined the Catholic Church and the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace. Connie was also very involved in the Northminster Presbyterian Church, the church she grew up in and eventually became an Elder for two decades. With a smile on her face, Connie would refer to herself as a “Presbytholic.”
Teaching was her passion and she believed that “all children can learn; and they learn best in an atmosphere of cooperation, respect and love.” Connie taught 47 years, 30 years at St Benedict’s in Seattle from where she retired in 2007. During that time she was awarded the Science Teacher of the Year in 1992 and the National Catholic Education Distinguished Teacher of the Year award in 1995. Connie also helped start the “Wallingford Wurst Festival,” which helped raise money for St Benedict’s School.
She enjoyed spending time with friends and family, reading, playing cards and games of all kinds. Connie enjoyed traveling, especially her travels to China, Africa and Great Britain. She traveled with a group from St Benedict to its sister parish in Zambia. Connie also enjoyed watching her brother, Mac, coach high school boys basketball.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents Don and Bernita Fraser. She is survived by her sister Donita (Glenn) Mallory and Shelley Svatos, brother Mac (Cyndi) Fraser, nieces, Kevin (Ted) Boyer and Erin (Brandt) Fraser Hoopes, nephews Mike (Julie) Stroncek and Riley Fraser, great-niece Jennifer (Josh) Little and great-nephew Jeff Boyer.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
A Funeral Mass will be held on September 30th at 11 a.m. at the Chapel: St. Mary on the Lake, 1663 Killarney Way, Bellevue, WA.
DONATIONS
Memorial donations are suggested to St Benedicts School, 4811 Wallingford Ave N.,Seattle, WA 98103 where Connie devoted 30 years of teaching or Northminster Presbyterian Church, 7706 25th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117.