Connie was born in Scranton PA, daughter of Frank Kamarunas and Angela Legus. She attended Central High School and Wilkes College, graduating in 1956. Connie was a stewardess for United Airlines from 1957 to 1960.
Marrying Kenneth Robert Schaefer in 1960, they enjoyed their honeymoon in Hawaii. Moving from New York City, Matawan New Jersey, and then Indianapolis Indiana, in 1965 daughter Cathy started school and son Bob was born in 1966. In 1968, the family moved to West Trenton, New Jersey where Connie was active in community activities including PTA president at Blessed Sacrament School in Trenton, Girl Scout Cookie Chairperson, Corresponding Secretary for The Contemporary, a women’s community organization in Trenton, and with the Wilkes University Alumni Association.
She enjoyed playing tennis at The Trenton County Club with Ken and many friends. Connie always enjoyed cooking and hosting parties for family, friends and neighbors. She worked in fashion departments at Bamberger’s in Quaker Bridge Mall, Macy’s at Livingston Mall, and at Neiman Marcus, Short Hills Mall. She received numerous sales awards. In 1980 the family moved to Basking Ridge NJ, where Connie continued her community involvement for Matheny in Peapack, sharing her retail and fundraising experiences. Connie and Ken joined wine tasting and themed gourmet groups where she made many life-long friends.
In 2007, Connie and Ken moved to Boca Raton, FL where they enjoyed the community activities at Boca Pointe including playing canasta with friends and facilitating a monthly full moon party at South Beach Park. Connie joined the Boca Raton Museum of Art and immediately volunteered to be in charge of refreshments. She became President of the Boca Raton Museum of Art Friends, the museum’s fundraising group, for several years. She was also an active member with the Boca Raton Garden Club, enjoying the role of hospitality chairperson.
Connie enjoyed sailing on a friend’s sailboat from Maine to Venezuela, and cruising to Scandinavia, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean.
Connie is survived by her husband Kenneth with 63 years of marriage, daughter Catherine of Palm Harbor, FL and son Bob and daughter-in-law Ruth of Bowie, MD, as well as many extended family members and countless friends.
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