Constance Elaine (nee Auwarter) Kosick, born July 2, 1946, died of natural causes on April 16, 2026, at home in Wheatridge, CO at the age of 79. Connie lived a full life as a loving mother, daughter, sister, wife, aunt, and independent woman.

Connie was born in Paterson, NJ to Frederick and Gladys (nee Hoe) Auwarter. She and her siblings Frederick Kent, Alan, and Andrea grew up on idyllic Packanack Lake, vacationing at the Jersey Shore and camping at Lake George, developing a love a nature. Connie would always feel peace and happiness with family and near the water, always wishing to live closer and visit more frequently with both.

As a teenager, Connie volunteered her time and talents bringing history to life at the Dey Mansion, which served as Washington’s Headquarters during the Revolutionary War. It was here, Connie learned traditional women’s skills like sewing, lace making, candle making, and cooking, as passed down through generations. She also developed a love of teaching by demonstrating those skills to crowds of visitors looking to connect with early American history.  It was here that she found her calling in teaching which would be a continuing theme throughout her life.

Connie attended Juniata College in Pennsylvania before transferring to American University in Washington, DC, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching. Though she did not spend much time teaching in a school classroom, she touched many childrens’ lives by teaching Sunday school, leading the youth group, leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and teaching quilting classes. 

After college, she met and married Francis Roger Kosick, Jr. on November 29, 1969 at her childhood church, Packanack Community Church, in Wayne, NJ. Connie worked for the Bell phone companies through many mergers and technological advances. They would eventually settle and put down roots in North Olmsted, OH with their two children, Brian and Kimberly.  Connie valued family above all else and was a very dedicated and nurturing mother, striving to give her children every opportunity to be successful themselves.  Even as she was battling cancer for what would be the first time, she selflessly spent countless hours at sporting events, band concerts, and other activities with a smile on her face no matter the time of day. Connie enjoyed the laughter and energy of children, always welcoming friends into their house. Roger predeceased Connie in 1995.  Soon after, Brian and Kim would both spread their wings and leave the house and Connie would retire.

For as much as Connie enjoyed being a mother, she also enjoyed and thrived off the peace of living alone on her own terms with her furry roommates.  Connie enjoyed a wide range of textile arts that she learned in childhood, but she ultimately found her passion in the colorful world of quilting.  She sought community with like-minded creative women in local quilting guilds, forming meaningful friendships that sustained her through the later part of her life.  She first dusted off skills learned in childhood, then continued learning from others until eventually teaching quilting classes of her own at the quilt shop where she worked part time to fuel her hobby.  Connie expertly created colorful, vibrant works of art, winning several awards at local quilt shows, and turning down offers of money for her finished quilts. Her quilts and other projects were made from her heart and freely, generously given to those she loved. Having been affected by cancer years earlier and remembering the struggle, Connie joined a quilt guild focused on making quilts to donate to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, so that they could be comforted during their treatments. Connie also found the time and energy to volunteer as a Red Coat or docent at the Cleveland Playhouse, where she enjoyed watching all the plays. Connie liked to joke that she was busier in retirement than she was when she worked and had kids in the house!

Connie’s children eventually married their spouses Azlenda Ahmad and Jeff Harper, blessing Connie with 5 grandchildren Madeleine, Annabelle, Adam, Ben, and Aidan in the span of about 3 years. Even though she was separated from them geographically, she was a dedicated and loving grandmother, always showing up for the big moments and when extra hands were needed. She would say that the shenanigans and chaos kept her young; in fact, she was often the ring leader of the shenanigans! Whether it was ballet, hockey, or karate, she loved being engaged and present at their activities, always their biggest cheerleader.

A memorial will be held for Connie on June 13, 2026 at Mountain Memorial Funeral Home, 51 County Road 5, Divide, CO 80814 from 11:30 a.m.  – 12:30 p.m. with a small reception to follow. The memorial will be available on zoom for those who are unable to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation or American Kidney Fund. Zoom link: ConnieKosickMemorial