Constance Ann (Chase) Kaplita

Connie Kaplita, loving mother, sister, aunt, caretaker-of-all-others, and Kendall County Democratic agitator left this earth on May 1, 2024, with the Texas Hill Country experiencing a wildflower bloom for the ages. She lived 87 vibrant and meaningful years.

Connie was born Constance Ann Chase, in Hartford, Connecticut to Frederick Robbins Chase and Marion Doris (Gladding) Chase. She and her sister, now Carol Harlan, spent their young lives in and around Windsor, CT and Springfield, MA, attending school, playing sports, and outrunning the boys. Connie was a scout leader, and loved to recall leading the other girls as they camped, sailed, and canoed on the Connecticut River and other waterways of their part of New England. Even in her later years, some of Connie’s favorite times were spent with her sister, and her sister’s family, at the Harlan family summer cabin (or “camp” as they say in those parts) in Raymond, Maine.

Connie was extremely loyal to her alma mater, Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where she majored in Sociology, with an Education minor. Even later in life, Connie enjoyed visiting campus (in the summertime, of course), where the administration always welcomed her so graciously.

Connie met her husband, Frederick J. Kaplita, when he started playing basketball before fellowship at the First Baptist Church in Springfield. Fred enlisted in the Navy upon his high school graduation, then studied electrical engineering at UMass after his service. During this time, Connie’s family had moved to Branford, CT, but she and Fred remained close, and they married on June 21, 1958, just two weeks after her Bates graduation. The couple moved to an apartment in Amherst, MA; Fred finished his degree at UMass and Connie began her teaching career in the fall of 1958, teaching 4th and 5th grade in Pelham, MA. Connie’s teaching career would go on to impact hundreds of young students in New England, New York and New Jersey, the Midwest and, eventually, Texas.

As Fred’s career developed, the couple lived all over: Rochester, NY, Branford, CT, Midland, MI, Williamsburg, VA, Washington, NJ, and Lake Jackson, TX. Connie dedicated her time to raising her children, Cindy, Stan, Pam and Marcie, and to her career as a school teacher. She had particular impact teaching students in Lake Jackson, and made many life-long friends, including Merry (Bumpy) Brown and Marianne Hobin. The three teachers became so close that, when Connie eventually settled and built her home in Boerne, Texas, Bumpy and Marianne built the house next door, where they spent their golden years as neighbors. This friendship was one of the many joys in Connie’s life in Boerne.

Connie was an exceptional mother, and an even better grandmother to her nine grandchildren. She loved living in Boerne, where she could be close to her daughter Cindy and her grandchildren Rachel and Michael, and all the friends and community that she made: her book club, her wine club, her sewing group, volunteering at hospice and with the Kendall County Democratic Party. For her entire life, Connie was a talented seamstress and artist. She set a high standard for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones for friends and family with her personal card-making – always thoughtful, sometimes ingenious, and mostly on-time. Connie’s cards and craft room were so good she once received a cease and desist letter from Hallmark.

She is survived by her children, Cindy Kaplita of Boerne, Stan Kaplita (Michelle) of Seattle, Pam Brandt (Bobby) of Lake Jackson, and Marcie Sharp (Joel) of Dallas, her sister, Carol Harlan (Bob) of Niantic, CT, nine grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces-and-nephews.

The family is planning to hold a private family celebration. In lieu of flowers, Connie’s family asks that friends consider donating to their favorite charity and remember Connie by making an extra effort to vote.