Grace Madeline Conner

P. DEAN HOMER FUNERAL HOME 206 WATER STREET PO BOX 1 DUSHORE, PA 18614 TEL 570 928-8163 FAX 570 928-8116 Email pdh@epix.net OBITUARY June 22, 2014 Grace Madeline Conner (nee Self) 86 years of age, formerly of Belleville, Illinois passed away peacefully on June 22, 2014 at the home of her daughter Cynthia in Dushore, Pennsylvania.Grace was born May 3, 1928 in the “Ping Pong" Centerville section of East St. Louis, Illinois. She was the oldest living daughter of Tilford Lafayette Self and Rosa Lee Crouch Self. She was the 3rd oldest of their 11 children. Her death was brought on by stage 4 lung cancer. In addition to the support of her family, SouthernCare Hospice attended to her needs.Grace attended East St. Louis Senior High School until her senior year. She married Harold Wesley Brumitt. They had 2 daughters, Cynthia Lynn (Gary) Wellener, and Sandra Kay (Ernest) Isam. Years later she met and married James Alvin Conner, who also had 2 daughters, Debra Ann (Tim) Lavnick and Robin Kay (Lance) Wellener. In 1963 a son, Keith Allen (Julie) Conner, was born to them. They were married for 37 years until his passing in November of 1998. In 1998 after her beloved husband died, she made her home in Dushore, PA sharing time with 2 of her daughters.In her earlier years, she worked at Amoco Container Corp and as a waitress, a seamstress, and spent a couple years at her daughter and son in law's business, the Laporte General Store where everyone knew her as "G-Ma." She worked without pay to help the business succeed. She became the self-proclaimed "Produce Manager" and never stopped moving until the doors were closed. She loved her garden and wrote letters and cards to relatives and friends that she had made throughout her life. She never had an enemy.Grace is survived by her 4 daughters, her son, and 2 sisters: Mary Esther Lee Self (James) McElligott of Millstadt, IL and Rachel Juanita Self (Robert) Boatman of Belleville, IL; and 2 brothers: Franklin Delano (Nancy) Self of Mesquite, Texas and Sherman David Self of Fairview Heights, Illinois. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren, and numerous special nieces and nephews and all her loved Conner relatives.She was predeceased by 6 siblings: Flossie (in infancy), William Monroe Self, Rosie Frances Self Schmidt, and John D. Huston Self, and Dixie Belle, (in infancy), and Clifford Damon, (in infancy.) She had for almost 40 years, made arrangements to donate her body to science, hoping to help someone become a doctor. She never wanted any attention brought to herself, thus, a funeral was not planned.In lieu of flowers, any monetary gifts may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131-3597All arrangements have been made by P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA. To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Grace Madeline Conner, please visit our flower store.