Constance H. Schoonmaker, age 93, of Newtown, passed away peacefully in her home after a brief illness on August 23, 2019. She was the daughter of Luther M. Howe and Edith Chellis of Wakefield, Mass.

She was predeceased by her sister, Madeline Selander, and husband, Stanley Schoonmaker.

Mrs Schoonmaker is survived by her three children, Allan Moore of Webster, Mass., Linda Moore of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Andy Moore and wife, Cathy, of Danbury; and three step-children, Gail Loundsbury and husband, Robert, of Danbury, Wayne Schoonmaker and wife, Lynn, of Danbury, and Gary Zenobia and wife, Mary, of Monroe.

She is also survived by her nephew, Davis Selander, and wife, Nancy, of Ridgefield; her grandchildren, Sara and Michael Andriello, Benjamin and Harrison Moore, Mikaela and Samantha Pruneau, Alan Loundsbury, Amanda Gudenkauf, Amy and Scott Schoonmaker; and Megan Zenobia, as well as her great-grandchildren, Jeremiah and Chloe Loundsbury, Cheyenne and Alecia Gudenkauf, and CJ Schoonmaker.

Connie was a resident of Newtown for more than 65 years and was a champion of children and education. Prior to becoming a teacher, she owned a nursery school for 12 years. She was a first-grade teacher for more than 20 years in the New Milford and Newtown school systems and set up the library in the Sandy Hook Elementary school when it first opened.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in learning disabilities from Western Connecticut State University. She was a member of the Newtown Congregational Church and at one point served as the church secretary, as well as a Girl Scout Leader.

She had a love of birds and gardening, as well as music, and was the matriarch of her family, a shining example of kindness, patience, love, and living a Christian life.

Friends may call on Saturday, September 21, 2019, from 11 am to 2 pm with a Memorial Service at 1:30 pm in the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown.