Connie S. Dowd

Connie S. Dowd, 91, peacefully passed away at her daughter’s residence surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, August 1, 2013. Everyone is invited directly to St. Joseph’s Church, 44 Benvenue Ave., West Orange, on Monday where the Funeral Mass celebrating her life will be offered at 10 AM. The committal service will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston, 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave., on Sunday, 2-4 and 7-9 PM.

Born in Maplewood, Connie was the daughter of Joseph and Angela Sansone, both born in Italy. She and her husband State Senator David W. Dowd raised their family in Livingston. The had homes in Howell Township, Long Beach Island and Florida. Connie graduated from Newark State Teacher’s College with a degree in Elementary Education and taught second grade in Livingston.

She was President and member of the Rosary Society of St. Raphael’s Church, Livingston. She delighted in traveling with her family all over Europe and Russia. Connie had been a faithful Yankee fan since her husband played for the Wellsville, N.Y. Yankee farm team.

Most of all, she will always be remembered by her family and friends as a generous woman sharing her time and many talents: cooking, gardening, knitting and creating many cherished family traditions.

Predeceased by her beloved husband, her son David W., Jr. and brother Alfred Sansone, she is survived by her devoted children: Dana Dowd Williams and her husband Mark , Dennis and his wife Mary, Daniel and his wife Kathy, Mary Ann Meyer, Thomas and his wife Cathy and Angela Trampota and her husband Miroslav; Connie is also survived by her sister Marie Colantuoni, 15 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent Academy, 228 W. Market St., Newark, NJ 07103.