Alberta D. McConnell

C. Alberta Davis McConnell, age 94, passed away surrounded by family on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Suncoast Hospice, Palm Harbor. She was born in Koblenz, Germany, to then Lt. Thomas Jefferson and Constance Pittis Davis, where her father was stationed after World War I. Growing up in Brooklyn, NY, Alberta joined her mother in volunteering at the ASPCA of NYC, where she committed herself to helping abused animals, a dedication she would carry throughout her life.

Her lifelong love and faithfulness to the Episcopal Church began when Alberta was a teenager teaching Sunday School. She was a faithful member and volunteer of Christ Episcopal Church in Brooklyn, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Huntington, NY, Christ Episcopal Church in Greenville, SC, and joined Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, Clearwater, after retiring to Florida in 1974. Alberta was a member of the Altar Guild, the Vestry, various outreach and sewing groups, to name just a few, at all of her parishes.

Alberta graduated from Shore Road Academy in Brooklyn and received her BFA in Textile Design from Syracuse University in 1945. Her artistic talent was always visible, from her beautiful pencil and ink compositions, to the church banners she created, and the little drawings she always added to cards and envelopes mailed to her many friends and family.

Her vibrant smile and congenial personality, at the age of 17, caught the eye of William J. McConnell, “her Bill,” who was to become the love of her life. They married years later in 1950 and she became a homemaker and devoted mother of three. Alberta and Bill spent many happy years together raising their family and dogs. She is remembered affectionately by family and friends for her love of church and charity, her candid humor, her adventurous travels, and of course for her devotion to animals.

Alberta is survived by her loving children, William (Adriane) McConnell, Constance (Raymond) Boler, and Eileen (Donald) Taylor; seven grandchildren; Christopher Taylor, Blake Taylor, John Taylor, Alexander Boler, Nathaniel Boler, Matthew Boler, and Britt Constance Boler; great-grandson Caleb Taylor; sister-in-law Grace McConnell, cousin Albert (Rosemary) Pittis; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband William, and sister Henrietta.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 11:00 am at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, 2165 NE Coachman Rd., Clearwater, with the Rev. Brian Beno officiating. Burial will follow immediately at the church’s Garden of Remembrance. The family will greet friends at a reception held in the parish hall of the church following the ceremony.

Should friends desire, contributions may be made in Alberta’s name to the Humane Society of Pinellas

( https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E76187&id=1 )

or the ASPCA ( https://secure.aspca.org ).