Constance E. "Connie" Schwartz

Constance E. “Connie” Schwartz, of Carmel, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, June 6, 2022.  Connie, one of eight children, was born September 28, 1941 in Springfield, OH to the late Anthony and Lillian Barone. She graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1957 and went on to earn an associate degree from the Community Hospital School of Nursing in Dayton, OH. While in Dayton, Connie met her future husband, the late Carl P. Schwartz. They were married in 1965 and three daughters- Julie, Kathy and Susie, soon followed. Connie took a break from nursing to raise her girls, but never one to be idle, she learned to play the electric guitar and joined the church band. She also taught herself to play tennis, spending hours hitting against a wall and reading every tennis theory book she could get her hands on.  It was then that her love of tennis pulled her in a new direction. Connie developed and ran a highly successful youth tennis program in Boardman, Ohio, and was the head coach for the Canfield Ohio High School Girls Tennis Team for several years. Connie’s love of tennis was passed down to daughter Kathy, a tennis pro at the Carmel Racquet Club and Woodland Country Club.

When her youngest Susie graduated from high school and decided to pursue a degree in music, Connie once again switched gears and enrolled in college as well, this time to pursue a Bachelor degree in Psychology. She happily sat next to her daughter in several classes, hosted study groups at home, and was the most popular student at the young age of 46. And of course she graduated with honors.

But Connie never forgot her first love, nursing, a love she passed along to daughter Julie, a nurse anesthetist at the VA hospital in Indianapolis. When the family relocated to Carmel, Indiana, Connie found work first as a nurse at St. Vincent’s Women’s Hospital, and later as a Clinical Supervisor for St. Vincent Hospice for many years. Never officially retiring, she continued to serve her community and educate. Connie taught a nurse refresher course at Chancellor, was a certified Res Cross CPR instructor, a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) first responder, a COVID vaccination volunteer, dog walker and assistant tennis instructor as needed by daughter Kathy.

Connie was active, loved fitness, learning and self improvement on any level. She was always reading, always trying new things including yoga, and never gave up on anything or anyone. At 80, she could hold the plank for 3 minutes. Connie was strong, independent, and an inspiration to all who knew her.

There will be a celebration of life to be announced at a later date.

She is survived by her daughters, Julie A. (husband, Tom) Gregg, Kathy A. (husband, Jack) Gordon, Susie A. (Pablo) Rivas; grandchildren, Sean Gregg and Sarah Gregg, Christine (husband, Brandon) Yosha, Ali Gordon and Cassidy Gordon, Chloe Rivas and Alejandro Rivas; sisters, Mary Sylvestri, Patricia Wead, Gail Reinheimer and Kathy Cortese.

Please visit flannerbuchanan.com to sign the online guest register.