Connie MacDonnell

Prelude-CD music

Welcome/Opening Prayer

Song #1: Jealous of Angels

Obituary

Connie Leigh MacDonnell, age 67, passed away in her home, her son & his wife, her granddaughter Alexis, her best friend Jayne, and her beloved dog Biscuit by her side on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.  She was born September 27, 1955, in Anamosa, Iowa, the daughter of Keith and Betty McCarty. A resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1976 moving from Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Connie was a personal legal assistant for J.D. Muench Chartered, owned her own secretarial and accounting business, worked in advertising sales for multiple radio stations, was the Chamber of Commerce Assistant Director for the Scott City Chamber of Commerce, and was managing Z Bottling at the time of her death.

On July 23, 1977, she married the love of her life, Todd M. MacDonnell in Scott City, Kansas at the Community Christian Church. He passed away on March 7, 2016, in Wichita, Kansas.

Connie attended Kirkwood Community College studying business management and took a variety of continued education classes over the years to expand her knowledge.

Connie was a thoughtful, loving, and kind-hearted woman who would do anything for anybody. She loved spending time with her close-knit group of girls which over-the-years included playing cards, bowling, the birthday club, and many holiday occasions with all their families together. Connie enjoyed spoiling her pets over the years and will always be remembered as the best nana ever.

Connie had an unconditional love for her family which includes her son Travis (Liz) MacDonnell of Marienthal, Kansas, daughter Amber MacDonnell of Colorado Springs, Colorado, two sisters Tracy McCarty (Larre Osterkamp) of Anamosa, Iowa, and Kristy McCarty (Gary Parmenter) of Ozark, Missouri, sister-in-law Deb McCarty of Ozark, Missouri, five grandchildren Alexis Long, Zach Kissick, Haylee Kissick, Kade Kingston, and Kiera Whatley, and one great-grandson Tyndale Kaeb.

She was preceded in death by her husband Todd, her brother Greg McCarty, her parents Keith & Betty McCarty, her mother and father-in-law Tom & Jo MacDonnell, her brother-in-law Richard MacDonnell, and numerous pets.

Connie will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all those who knew her but her strong faith in the Lord is reassuring of her eternal life.

Scripture Reading

Psalm 103:13–18 NIV

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

[At this time the family has prepared a tribute slide show to share with you]

SLIDE SHOW

[After slide show ask if anyone would like to share a memory or some thoughts about Connie.]

Sermon

I would like to share a few words of comfort this afternoon. These two words constitute the shortest verse in the entire Bible.

John 11:35 NIV

Jesus wept.

What wold have caused Jesus to weep? It was the death of his dear friend Lazarus. [Summarize John 11]

Jesus knows the grief associated with loss.

John 11:3 NIV

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

The Greek word used here is the the word phileo which is the the word used to describe love between friends. [not one sided, mutual]

Jesus loves everyone, big deal. That’s agape, unconditional love that’s different [is not necessarily mutual] . It’s “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” kind of love.

Jesus knew Lazarus, they hung out.

What defines a friend? Connie knew. It was spending time together. Celebrating holidays, it’s sharing a meal, it’s laughing and crying, it’s time together on bowling trips, it’s card nights and 4th of July parties. It’s riding up to Manhattan with my mom to deliver groceries to me on my first week of college.

Proverbs 17:17 NIV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

We grieve today because we loved Connie and in return we know what it was like to be loved by her.

2. Jesus can relates to us because he has experienced life as we have.

-He was fully God but don’t forget he was also fully human.

-Jesus laughed, stubbed his toe, knew joy and even knew the sting of betrayal. When his friend died he wept. The word “wept” literally means “to flood”.

-Can you imagine Jesus in the midst of an “ugly cry”?

-For me this is quite comforting, Jesus has walked this same path that we are on right now.

-Because of his humanity Jesus can relate to all of the aspects of our lives.

-Some of the grand kids said yesterday that Connie was the best Nanna. The best Nannas know how to relate. Connie had an uncanny ability to empathize. People who good at that are able to relate to you your joy or pain because they too have experienced something like it too. Life experiences make them better people because they can somehow harness their emotions and not allow them over power them.

3. We too have a friend in Jesus.

-Jesus was friend to Lazarus but also to his sisters and he comforted them when they saw that their brother had died.

-He comforted them by reminding them that he has authority over death. [in this instance he demonstrated it by calling Lazarus out of the grave, and he walked out].

-The lesson here is, friends of Jesus can know eternal life.

-We may weep, who should weep, but as the Psalmist reminds us “weeping may sat for the nigh, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

-At the resurrection all the “friends of Jesus” will stand in glory and everything will be made new.

Revelation 21:1–7 NIV

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Song #2: Dancing in the Sky

After I offer the closing prayer the family will be dismissed and they would like to invite you to stick around for some refreshments and to visit if you are able.

Closing Prayer