Connie Irene (Knill) Gildersleeve

Connie Irene (Knill) Gildersleeve "She used the whole box of crayons" Connie passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, with birds chirping and water trickling through the stream from her bedside speaker, along with her husband, Rick Gildersleeve, son, Richard Gildersleeve, daughter in-law, Lori and her son, Morgan, at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital at the young age of 75. We all can agree she is in a much better and peaceful place not fighting chronic pain and is now running free in heaven, touching everyone with her many God given "artistic" talents. Connie was born September 16, 1947, with her Identical twin sister, Bonnie, to her late beloved parents, Frank Danforth Knill and Ellen Elizabeth Knill in Detroit, Michigan. She was one of nine siblings. Connie devoted herself as a wife, mother, teacher, entrepreneur, and mentor that touched so many people and children, with her accomplishments; as a Licensed Cosmetologist, Artist, Photographer, Licensed Hypnotherapist, Catastrophic Illness Counselor, Leader of the Mount Clemens Chapter of the American Chronic Pain Association, member of the National Society of Tole and Decorative Painters, Inc., Fraser Fine Arts Assoc., as well as volunteering for a Osteopathic Non-Profit organization. She was the founder and was on the board as secretary of “Love your Lungs” a non-profit organization made up of patients and their families with Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease, in conjunction with Mount Clemens General Hospital. Her slogan was “We Listen...We Smile...We Care. Additional accomplishments included a publication of a children’s audio and coloring book in dealing with stress in everyday life which was to be distributed by Kmart Corporation. These are things you learn when you must compile the memories and documents after the loss of a loved one. Also, she loved her poetry. One of her talented writings was known as a “Haiku” was published. “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” - Dr. Suess She is survived by her husband, Richard K Gildersleeve, who she married on April 4, 1966 in Alexandria, VA., while her husband was in the United States Army. They had their first date at Boblo Island followed by 57 years of many adventures, after the return of her husband serving our country. They had two children together, Richard Keith Gildersleeve Jr. and Joel Allen Gildersleeve (Joel who had passed from complications at birth, but is always in our thoughts and prayers, “God rest his soul"., along with their love for their poodle, Maggie LeRoux. She is also survived by her beloved sisters and brothers; Bonnie Mazzola, Suellen Birkam, Frank (Ann) Knill, and Rick (Lynn) Knill, along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved siblings, Harold King, Sharon O’Donnell , Debrah Packard and William Knill. In lieu of formal arrangements, a private family memorial service will take place at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to a GoFundMe page that was set up by the family, which will donate the money to the “American Chronic Pain Association” ACPA. https://gofund.me/1d7cda97 Arrangements in care of Jowett Funeral Home-57737 Gratiot, New Haven.

Connie Irene (Knill) Gildersleeve

September 16, 1947 - August 1, 2023