She was born on March 13, 1934, in New Orleans, to the late John McShane Rigney and Dolores Barr Rigney.
Adored mother of Jacqueline Haddican, John Haddican, Erin Haddican, Kathleen Haddican Schafer and son-in-law, Gordon F. Schafer, Jr., and the late James Haddican, Jr. Cherished grandmother of Meredith Schafer, Kendall Schafer, and Mallory Schafer. Loving sister of the late John Marius Rigney (Shirley), the late Eugene Wallet Rigney, Gerard Joseph Rigney (Karen), Thomas Jude Rigney (the late Jeannine), William Patrick Rigney, Joseph Michael Rigney (Priscilla), and the late Angela Marie Rigney. Loving sister-in-law of the late John Haddican (Anna Lee), Marie Haddican Doolen (the late Frederick), and the late Elizabeth Mische Ferrara (the late Don). Loving daughter-in-law of the late Mary Haddican Mische.
Connie grew up on Constance Street in the Irish Channel. She came from a big, Irish Catholic family. She was the oldest of eight children, and she often helped her parents, Mack and Dolly, with her younger siblings. She graduated from St. Michael Elementary School, and then from Redemptorist Girls High School, better known as “Third and Prytania”, in 1951. Connie met her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life, Jimmy Haddican, in grade school. They dated through high school and were married on a lovely spring morning at St. Michael Catholic Church on April 29, 1954. They lived briefly on Constance Street, then moved to Terrytown after having their first two children, Kathy and Jackie. Connie and Jimmy joined Christ the King Catholic Church and Elementary School in 1960. Their two boys, Jimmy Jr., and John, came along soon after. Connie and Jim became one of the pioneer couples of Christ the King Parish, and it was the foundation of their family for so many years. They were both very active in the church and school. Connie particularly enjoyed volunteering as a room mother, helping at the church fair, teaching Catechism classes on Saturday mornings, and collecting for The March of Dimes and Easter Seals each year. Connie was a very devout Catholic, with very strong faith, and was especially devoted to the Blessed Mother. Connie and Jim had their last child, Erin , in 1974, and on top of taking care of a new baby, she helped to care for her own parents, and kept up with being the wife of a popular newspaper columnist, (she was always making scrapbooks of Jim’s work). She partnered with him in raising five children in the Catholic faith, with the highest Christian values.
Connie was a real beauty. Dad always said, “I married the prettiest girl in the Irish Channel”. She was a dark-haired, green-eyed “Irish Rose of Tralee”. She was extraordinarily compassionate, kind, and loving toward others, and her family always came first.
Her favorite color was pale pink because that was the color of her wedding dress, cap, and veil. Pink roses will be the flowers of the day. She was outgoing, intelligent, and humble. She enjoyed reading good books, doing crossword puzzles, watching “Jeopardy” and PBS with Jim, and going out to lunch with him every day. She often would get her favorite desserts, strawberry cheesecake and pralines.
Connie loved all of her siblings and in-laws very much. She especially cherished her three beautiful granddaughters, Meredith, Kendall, and Mallory. She truly loved going to all of their school activities at Ursuline Academy over the years. The girls were the joys of her life.
No words can express the love and adoration we have for our mother, Connie. We are honored to be her children. For our father, Jim, she was his jewel, his best friend, his soulmate, and now his angel in heaven. She is with all of us forever. She is with Jim, always, (“Always” was their song.)
The family wishes to thank Dr. Patricia Jackson and Dr. Charles Billings for their exceptional and loving care of our mother over the years. There will be a private, Catholic service for the immediate and extended family at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 11:00AM in Metairie Cemetery at Tranquil Oaks Garden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Connie's memory to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans.
To view and sign the guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com
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