BERNE — Lee Ann Conners of Berne, whose life centered around children, died on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn in Albany. She was 82.

“Lee Ann loved the four-season beauty of the Helderbergs; autumn could never arrive too early, and every year she eagerly anticipated decorating for Christmas, starting in early November,” her family wrote in a tribute.

She was born in Rochester on May 3, 1935 to Mary D. and Victor J. McKeown of Geneseo.

After receiving her degree at Teachers College at Geneseo, she married Ronald M. Conners and they moved to Berne where they raised their family. She lived in Berne for 57 years.

For most of her career, she taught kindergarten at Draper Elementary School in Rotterdam, where she met her dear friend and fellow teacher, Peg Kniskern. She also taught at Bradt Elementary School in Mohonasen.   

“She was an avid reader and longtime supporter of the Berne Library, and her life was centered around children, including her students, friends of her own children, and neighborhood kids,” her family wrote.  

The tribute concludes, “Lee Ann was also fiercely proud of her Irish heritage, and loved to visit Cape Cod.”

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Lee Ann Conners was “Mema” to her beloved granddaughter, Kaleigh Conners. She is also survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ian and Sandie Conners of Berne, and by her daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Conners Cake and Eric Cake of Morrisville, Pennsylvania.

She is survived, too, by her sisters, Molly McKeown and Sally Jo DelleFave and her husband, Carl; by her brother-in-law, Thomas Conners; by her sister-in-law, Shirley Belt; and by many special nieces and nephews.

Her husband of 45 years, Ronald M. Conners, died before her.

Her family thanks “the extraordinary staff of St. Peter’s Hospice Inn for the loving care and comfort they provided.”

A service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26,  at 11 a.m. at the Fredendall Funeral Home at 199 Main Street in Altamont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Berne Public Library, Post Office Box 209, Berne, NY 12029 or to The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 South Manning Blvd., Albany NY 12208.