Connie Jo Emmerson

January 23, 1965 – March 25, 2025

Woodlawn Funeral Home

Connie Emmerson, 60, of Orlando, Florida, passed away on March 25, 2025, after a courageous five-year battle with stage 4 breast cancer.

She was born in Effingham, Illinois, on January 23, 1965. Connie graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor's degree.

On September 4, 1993, she married the love of her life, Steve Emmerson. They shared 31 years of marriage. Together, they co-founded Royal Landscape Nursery of Gotha, Florida, where their shared passion grew into a successful family business.

If we had to sum Connie up in three words, they would be fearless, fun, and fabulous.

She never went anywhere without her lipstick—she even made sure to put it on before undergoing surgery. She embraced life with boldness and beauty and always on her own terms.

Connie had a heart for helping others, actively supporting charities such as the Orlando Rescue Mission and the Coalition for the Homeless. Her hobbies included going out on the lake, spending time with her family, cooking, throwing parties, and shopping—lots of shopping!

One of her favorite sayings, which always made her daughters laugh, was how much she loved curse words and to watch movies—and how much she hated vegans and tiny houses.

She is survived by her husband, Steve Emmerson, and their daughters, Mia and Sophie Emmerson.

She is also survived by her brother Laverne Verdeyen Jr. and sisters Brenda (Verdeyen) Sloan and Judy Mae (Verdeyen) Finke.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Laverne (PeeWee) and Margie (Hanna) Verdeyen, and her brother, Robert (Bobby) Verdeyen.

Connie’s legacy will never be forgotten.

Funeral arrangements will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home at 12:00 PM on April 12th, 2025.

We kindly ask that everyone wears color!

A public visitation for Connie will be held Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734, followed by a celebration of life service from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.