Constance Marie Harrison

The oldest daughter of Ralph Hanson and Mary Sudbay, Connie was born May 23, 1933, in Portland, Maine. Connie’s early years were happily spent living on Tyng Street in the Irish neighborhood of Portland’s West End where she and her sister, Sally, and brother, Ed walked to the movies at the State Theater for Saturday matinees and to Deering Oaks Park for skating during the winter months. Raised in large part by her beloved grandmother, Marie LaGrange, who was originally from Canada, Connie and her family spent their summers in the small village of Riley Brook, New Brunswick swimming and fishing in the Tobique River. The family later moved to Augusta where she attended Cony High School and made life-long friends.

Some of Connie’s favorite memories were made at Gorham State Teachers College. During those years Connie waited on tables at Gilbert’s on Pemaquid Point and at Valerie’s in Ogunquit where she loved sharing the story of serving Montgomery Clift.

During her junior year at Gorham, Connie was cast opposite another theatrical novice, Frank Harrison. Connie maintained it was “love at first sight” and went on to marry Frank in 1955. The two celebrated 65 years of marriage on August 6th. Asked by her granddaughters what has been the best part of her life, “Nonnie” shared that she couldn’t choose but it was between marrying “Papa” and the birth of her five children, Michael, Peter, Scott, James and Margaret, and her 19 grand and great-grandchildren.

Connie wore many hats in life. Upon graduating from college, she began a career in teaching, first as a 4th-grade teacher at Reed School in Portland and later as a 1st-grade teacher at the John Andrew school in South Windham. The role she most cherished, though, was raising her children which she put above all else. After her kids were grown, Connie embarked on a second successful career as a realtor for Coldwell Banker in Falmouth. She worked in real estate for 15 years, earning several accolades in sales and cultivating wonderful friendships. Connie was a woman of great faith and an active participant in and contributor to the First Parish Church in Yarmouth. She was involved in Christian education, the Diaconate, and the church choir, and regularly volunteered at Bean Suppers and the Clam Festival, where she made her famous strawberry-peach pies.

Upon their retirement, Connie and Frank spent winters in Englewood, Florida where Connie honed her painting skills, hosted family and friends, and spent hours walking the beaches inevitably followed by a visit to the nearest ice cream shop. Their last 55 summers were spent at their family camp on Sebago Lake where she could be found counting kid’s heads in the water and spending her evenings singing old songs and sharing stories around a campfire. She and Frank also enjoyed visits to their cottage on Drift Inn Beach in Port Clyde.

Anyone who knew Connie knew immediately that her greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted wife and mother and fully embraced her role as matriarch. Never one to back down from a challenge, she fed, dressed, and corralled five children for church each Sunday morning and yet never failed to have Sunday dinner on the table. She proudly taught each of her children and grandchildren to jitterbug and was always game for an impromptu dance lesson in the kitchen. Connie had the unique ability to connect with people and her children and grandchildren were the direct beneficiaries of this gift. She saw each of them as individuals, taught them by example how to work hard, love fully, and enjoy the little things life offers. Always available to lend an ear or a shoulder, she was a great confidante and adviser, firm but fair. Always seeing the bright side, Connie's zest for life was contagious. Her love for her family was boundless. She will be missed every day.

Connie was predeceased by her younger brother Ralph Edward. She leaves behind her loving husband, Frank, her five devoted children, fifteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren: Michael and Trish Harrison (Joseph and Adrianne, Maia and Will) (Emily and Jamie, Avery and Andrew), Peter and Janet Harrison (Adam and Jordana), Scott and Lisa Harrison (Margaret, Olivia, Kayla, Julia, and Sophia), James and Monty Hagen-Harrison (Gabriel and Eben), Margaret and Colin O’Neill (Anne, Eavan, Mairen and Eliza). She is survived by her sister, Sally McMenamin, her sister-in-law, Ruth Hanson, and her many nephews and nieces. Connie will be missed by many dear friends.

Heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Home Partners, Advantage Home Care, and Baysquare of Yarmouth. Many thanks also to Compassus Hospice and Northern Light Hospice for their support and wonderful care of Connie in her last days.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Connie’s name to First Parish Congregational Church of Yarmouth, 116 Main St., or to the charity of your choice.

A private celebration of Connie’s life for immediate family will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2020, 11:30 AM at Riverside Cemetery, Yarmouth, Maine.

You may offer your condolences or share your memories at www.lindquistfuneralhome.com