Sydney
It is with sadness that we are sharing the news of mum’s passing on Saturday, March 26, 2022, age 79 years, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney. Over the past two and a half years, she demonstrated that courage, determination, faith, and a sense of humour can help in even the most difficult of circumstances.
Born on December 3, 1942, in Sydney, Connie was the second of 11 children born to the late Edward and Marion (Mary) Collins.
Growing up in Whitney Pier, Connie was proud to be a “pier girl”. Mum left the pier when she met Terry, an Englishman, who sailed into Sydney harbour and into her heart. Mum and dad married in 1963 and they spent the early years of their marriage in England where together they added four daughters to their family. They ultimately returned to Canada and made their home in Coxheath.
Mum enjoyed a full life, raising her family and spoiling her grandchildren. She loved nothing more than being a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. Meeting new people while helping and supporting others brought much joy into her life. Mum was young at heart and could always make you laugh. Connie was always up for an adventure and enjoyed travelling throughout Europe and had a special place in her heart for her second home, Spain.
Connie loved watching live theatre production and reveled in the performing arts. Her legacy is her grandchildren and she encouraged and supported them in all that they did. Furthering her children and grandchildren’s education was of utmost importance to her and she could often be heard boasting about their accomplishments. Dad passed away in 2010. Despite the enormous loss mum experienced, in recent years, she continued to make new friends while connecting with old. She was loved and supported by the “willow girls”, her friends at the pool and in yoga class at the YMCA and her weekly hairdressing ladies.
Mum leaves behind her four daughters, Debra (Gary) Samek, Edmonton, Angela (Glenn) Gouthro, Sydney, Marion, Sydney, and Kate (Richard) Hines, Calgary; nine grandchildren, Gavin, Fiona, Nicola (Riley), Brendan (Hannah), Sarah, Marc, Lauren, Cole and Ben; brothers, Chuck, Allan, Joe, Patrick ‘Kippy’ and sister, Arlene and their families.
Besides her parents, Connie was predeceased by her siblings, Lorne, Edward, Marion, Lennie, and Ann.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Dana Farina, Dr. Saliba, Rhonda MacNeil, Dr. Gala-Lopez, the VON nurses and the nursing staff in the ER and palliative care units at the Cape Breton Regional for their compassionate care and helping us navigate this difficult journey.
As a family, we have been touched by the kindness of people we met along her journey along with calls and messages of support.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Connie may be made to the MS Society or charity of your choice.
There will be no visitation for the late Connie Pittman. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 10 a.m. in Holy Redeemer Church, Whitney Pier with Fr. Paul Murphy officiating. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks.
Covid protocols will be practiced at the service and for those unable to attend, Live Streaming will be available on our website.
Click Here: http://Face Book at Holy Redeemer
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.
Online Condolences
so sorry for your loss…Connie had such an infectious laugh and smile. She had a way of making a person feel great if they were having a bad day.. May all your fond memories help you, the family, through this difficult time.. Another ANGEL from Broadway..
From: Kevin Primmer/Gen Fogarty
So sorry for your mum’s passing I remember your family well RIP Connie may you fly high with all the angels Image removed by sender. 😇
From: Crystal March
Debra, Angela, Kate, Marion & Family
I’m sorry for the tremendous loss you’re experiencing. Every time I saw Connie in recent years, usually at the theatre, I would speak with her.
My sincere condolences on the passing of your Mom, Grandmother, Sister. May the memories you cherish get you through this difficult time.
From: Susan Burke
My deepest sympathy to the Pitman family on the passing of Connie. God bless.
From: Paul Douglas Carrigan
Thinking of you all at this very difficult time. Mrs. Pittman was a wonderful person and I loved spending time at the Pittman house while growing up. I am glad that I had the pleasure of knowing her. Sending hugs and love to the entire family.
From: Christine Boutilier
Connie was such a caring person to family and friends. She will be missed by so many. Wishing the family the best in this sad time.
From: Gen Fogarty/Kevin Primmer
So sorry to hear of Connie’s passing. She was such a sweet lady! Scott, Beth, allyson and stephen macneil
From: Beth MacNeil
I was so saddened to learn of Connie’s passing. I spoke with her several months ago and
I promised I would visit soon; a promise, I’m sorry to say, I did not keep. Connie meant so much to me as did Terry. I’m thinking of them both today as I will for many days to come. She’s with her eternal love now. Please know I’ll remember so fondly as a kind, witty & intelligent lady. She was always gracious and warm loving. Be proud of all she meant to so many!! Please accept my heart felt condolences.
From: Bernadette MacNeil
My deepest condolences to all of you.
From: Shirley (Crane) Gardiner
I am saddened to learn the passing of this beautiful lady you call mom. I’ve known Mrs. Pittman for the last 17 years working at Sobeys Sydney River when she would come shop weekly. She was always pleasant & spoke highly of her girls, grand children & her trips to Spain. I will miss her dearly. My Heartfelt Condolences, Thoughts & Prayers to you all.
From: Dorothy (Yorke) McKenzie
So sorry to hear of the loss of our wonderfully friendly and funny neighbour…always enjoyed our chats on the road …
From: Scott Phillips and Meg Sargent ( Briarwood Dr)
On behalf of the MacArthur Family, Coxheath, we send our deepest condolences to Connie’s family.
From: James and Micki MacArthur and Family
Very sorry to hear of your loss. Connie was a very good friend to us and I know many more . Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time . ❤️
Our condolences to the Collins family on the loss of their sister. Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time.
Angela and family,So sad to read of the loss of your Mom.She certainly had an uphill battle these past months.May the kind words of others give you all some comfort.
Angela and Glenn, so sorry to read about your Mom’s passing. Please accept our sincere sympathy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your Family as you deal with her loss. God Bless. Roddie and Judy
So sorry for your loss. May all you happy memories help you through this difficult time .
Allan and Lorraine please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of your beloved Connie. May she rest in peace.
My family and I want to send our condolences to you all. My thoughts and prayers are with you all
So very sorry to hear of Connie’s passing, such a truly beautiful person..kind & very caring to everyone. Sincerest
Condolences to all Connie’s family, prayers & kindest thoughts to everyone!!!
So sorry to hear of this dear lady’s passing. She was a kind and caring soul, especially to so many children at Coxheath Elementary. A huge loss to all who loved her. Sending sincere condolences to her family. Rest in peace, sweet soul!
Debra to you and all the family our deepest condolences. Mum was a breath of fresh air, infectious in her warm personality, kindness and hospitality to many people. Her family and involvement with them was next to none, it was so important to her. The villa in Spain is still affectionately known as Connies, when we moved to Spain in 1997 we were the first renters and we were the last renters when Mum decided to sell. So many wonderful memories with Mum and Dad. Thinking of you and all the family at this sad time. Love Angela and Bill.❤️
Allan and family: We would like to pass on our sincere condolences on the passing of Connie.
Michael and Carol AuCoin
Your mom (and dad) were kind neighbors of our family from the days when we all lived on Alderwood Dr in Coxheath. Connie was so kind to allow us some vacation time at her Mediterranean get away back in 2015. My condolences to all of her daughters and extended family on the loss of a wonderful lady.
Dear Debra, Angela, Marion and Katrina., sending our love to you all at this sad time and remembering cherished memories of Connie.
Love Gerry and Heather Hayes her brother and sister in law xx
Dear cousins and families
So sorry to hear about your mum x I will always remember her for her lovely Canadian accent, her laughter and love of live, a truly beautiful soul x
She will be missed x
Love Maria
Angela and Glenn, and extended family…
Please accept our sincerest condolences with respect to your mum’s passing, Angela. While we didn’t know her personally, we certainly know you and we are sure her qualities are reflected there. We hope you will draw from your many memories and reflecting on past events will help you get through the coming months.
Dear Marion and Gavin,
I was so saddened to learn of your Mom and Grandmother’s passing. I know you will be heartbroken. Hoping you each can feel my hugs!
Nick and I have such warm memories of your Mom and Dad.
They loved you each so much, and your sisters and their families. You each brought such happiness to their lives. Connie would share, with such pride, the accomplishments and activities of her grandchildren. You each filled their hearts with such pride and joy.
Your Mum, Grandmother and your Dad left a wonderful legacy for you each.
Our most sincere sympathy to you each at this time.
May knowing that your friends are thinking about you at this time bring some comfort.
With warm affection,
Audree and Nick Coyle
Passing along our sincere condolences to the family.
We are truly sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Please accept our condolences and may our prayers help comfort you.
We were very saddened to read the news of Connies passing. Connie was such a nice kind lady and a wonderful neighbour. Our deepest condolences to you Joe and to your entire family. May the wonderful memories comfort you at this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Debra, Angela, Kate and Marion…
My sincerest condolences to you all as well as your spouses and children,
Your mum will ALWAYS hold a very special place in my heart.
For you my dear Aunty Connie,
“I choose to love you in silence…For in silence I find no rejection.
I choose to love you in loneliness…for in loneliness no one owns you but me.
I choose to adore you from a distance…for distance will shield me from pain.
I choose to kiss you in the wind…for the wind is gentler than my lips.
I choose to hold you in my dreams….for in my dreams you have no end.”
Rumi
Rest in Peace now.
Love Always
Tess
Dear Debra, Angela, Marion, Katrina and all your families. So sorry to hear of your mothers passing. She was a wonderful lady and I have so many good memories. Thinking of you all at this time.
Love and Kindness
Mum and I were both instantly reduced to tears on hearing this sad news.
Both Terry & Connie were my surrogate parents in Staplehurst and the friendship that Mum & Dad had with them both has never been equalled. For my dear old Dad to look forward to seeing anyone was a rarity, but I remember him laughing, joking and enjoying the Pittman tours of the UK.
How could there be anything but laughter, of course?
I remember a conversation with Connie which must have been 1986 or 1987 because I was sporting a peroxide Mohawk hairstyle and generally worrying the parents.
“Don’t you ever change Gavin”, Connie said to me, as Dad looked me up and down, dubiously …
I didn’t Connie. Thank you and bless you.
Mum has lost a sister, and I have lost an aunt. Not through blood, but respect and much love.
With that love, we say goodbye and offer our condolences to the family.
Gavin & Di
So very sorry to hear of Connie’s passing. She was an amazing lady who will be dearly missed. Hugs and prayers to the family!
To the Pittman family
I was so very sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all , as you go through this difficult time.
Dear Debbie, Angela, Marion and Katrina,
I am so sorry to hear about your mum Connie passing recently. Although I only last spoke to her earlier this year, she was so full of life and talking about you with so much enthusiasm and how well you all took care of her. Take care and try to remember all the good times and happy memories that you spent together. Love from Stephanie
Dear Debra, Angela, Marion and Katrina, sending lots of love to each one of you in memory of your special mum. I have received so much joy and happiness from knowing all of you and will continue to do so. Connie was a loving and caring mother to you all and she will very missed by all her family. Love Auntie Valerie xxxx
So sad to hear the news ,Connie will always be in our thoughts. We have wonderful memories of her as a dear friend at Staplehurst in England and the great time we had with her and Terry in Spain .our thoughts are with you all. Love from Diane and Ian.