Obituary: Connie Rhea

Connie Rhea, (76), of Orlando, Florida, passed away Nov. 13, 2023.

Born Connie Lynn Hill Aug. 30, 1947, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to Richard and Mary Louise Hill, who predeceased her.

Connie and husband David lived in Ocoee at 906 Center St. for 40 years and moved to Orlando in May of this year.

Family and faith were the cornerstones of Connie's life. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Connie had an inner strength rooted in her unwavering love for Jesus that guided and sustained her throughout her life.

Connie lived her life by actively serving others, be they family, friends, strangers or MYW (Mennonite Your Way) guests.

Connie graduated from Andrews University with a BS in Education and Home Ec. And, many years later, Life (Liberty) University as a certified Life Coach.

She was teaching school in Michigan when she met her husband of 49 years, David Rhea. She and David began their ministry of "hospitality" in their third month of marriage when they began to take in “wards of the state” such as run-away teenagers, foster children and "crack babies" at their first home in Michigan. This ministry continued throughout their married life.

To Connie and David was born Trisha in 1977 in whose home "she went to sleep in Jesus."

Connie was a talented cook and a vegetarian.

She also played roles of pianist or organist at many churches in Michigan, Kentucky and Florida.

A few other jobs she had were Assistant Fire Chief and Training officer, E.M.T., office manager, roofer, painter, upholsterer, music composer, museum hostess, store clerk and many more.

She is survived by husband David; daughter Trisha and her husband Carlos Tavarez; Trisha’s children, Xander and Zoey; adopted daughter Kira (Logsdon) Mitchell of Orlando and her children

Ariell, her husband John Ralph, and Faithe, Hunter and Kobe. Also, Connie's sister Karen and husband Charles, and Karen's daughters Sonya in Michigan and Sandy and husband Dan Klug in Washington.

Also surviving are Connie's adopted sisters Doris Likens of Ocoee and Traci Lemon of Maryland.

In Indiana are stepdaughter Dee-Dee Herald, and her daughter Meghan and husband Bob Walz, their children Jael, Nathan and Joshua of Indiana, and Dee-Dee's daughter Danni and husband Damon of Chicago.

A " Celebration of Life " potluck was held at Wadeview Park in Orlando between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Nov. 25.