PRESTON – Constance “Connie” Degear, 74, of Preston , passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012 in the Oneida Extended Care Facility, Oneida, where she resided for the last three years.
Connie was born on May 5, 1937 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the daughter of Albertito and Lois Keefe Nadal. She spent her early years on Staten Island and has been a resident of the Norwich area since the 1950s, where she raised her family. On Sept. 8, 1992 in Preston, she married Glenn Degear.
Connie was a very active volunteer in the community, and had many interests. She was a Girl Scout leader in the early 1970s, was active in the Chenango County Bird Club and a member of the Quilt Guild. Connie’s main interest was in the Fire Service and EMS, where she had a passion for teaching. She was the first female fire fighter in Chenango County in 1972. A member of the George Rider Hook and Ladder Company of the Norwich Fire Department since 1972, where she was a life member, a member of the Norwich Volunteer Emergency Squad since 1973 where she held many offices including Captain. Also a life member of the Preston Fire / Rescue for 18 years and served as EMS Chief for several years. Connie was an Instructor Trainer in CPR and First Aid. She was a New York State Certified EMT instructor for 31 years and taught a least one EMT class every year.
She worked in many areas of the Norwich School System, worked for Frontier Communications for 19 years. Connie received her LPN certification from BOCES in 1995 and spent 14 years as a LPN at Chenango Memorial Hospital in the ER. Connie was a role model and positive influence on many lives.
Connie is survived by her husband Glenn, her daughters Patricia Nelson and her husband Jeff of Sterling, Ohio, Ann Farnham and Don Hoag of Norwich, and Barbara Rudnitski of Norwich. Also surviving are grandchildren Christopher Rudnitski, Jessica Binelli, Joseph Binelli, Samantha Jaramillo, Adam Raza, Katie Wade, and Carter Rudnitski, seven great grandchildren, her sister Lois (Beebe) Keefe and her brothers Francis (Woody) Keefe, James Nadal, Jorge Nadal, and Ramon Nadal. She was predeceased by a daughter Lucy Bennett, a sister Kathy, her parents and her first husband Donald Rudnitski.
Funeral services will be held noon on Saturday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home, with Richard Howard officiating. Interment will be in the spring at the J.D. Lewis Cemetery, Preston
Friends are invited to call Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to the time of the service.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Preston Fire/Rescue, 124 County Road 19, Oxford, NY att: William Ahearn.