Constance R. Dempsey

Constance Rosemary MacCallum was born to Charles A. MacCallum and May Cannovan MacCallum on November 19, 1907, in Anaconda, MT. Charles, his brother and brother-in-law had come from Montréal and opened MacCallum-Cloutier Mercantile, also known as the French Store. French-Canadian millwrights had come to build the Anaconda Copper Smelter and the mercantile served the French-speaking community. The family left Anaconda in 1920, first to Spokane and then to Longview, where Constance graduated from Longview High School in 1926. She later worked at West Coast Telephone Company in Marshfield, OR. Following a dream to live in California, she moved to Berkeley in 1932, and worked at the Federal Land Bank. She met Paul Dempsey, a young attorney, son of Irish immigrants, at the St. Francis De Sales Young People's Club in Oakland. They were married on June 13, 1936, in Los Gatos and settled in San Leandro. After Paul's death in 1947, Constance and her six children moved to Everett, WA to be nearer her family who were living in that area. Connie worked in the Personnel Department of General Telephone for many years, mentoring many, retiring in 1972. She then spent long summers on Guemes Island and the winter months visiting her children, welcoming babies, baking bread and teaching that "Manners can be fun," and "Books are our friends." She beat everybody at Scrabble, worked crossword puzzles, and enjoyed C-Span and any national political program. She especially cherished her role of "Grandmother" and showered love and attention upon her grandchildren. She lived the last 20 years in Wenatchee with the family of her youngest daughter, Lyn Head. 2007, her centennial year, was filled with celebrations as family and friends came bearing gifts and birthday cakes. She is survived by children, Rosemary Lane (Dwayne), Connie Regimbal (Alan), Sue Sievers (Fred), Paul Dempsey-Chiam (Dorothy) and Lyn Head (Douglas); 20 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several loving and devoted nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Charles Dempsey. The family wishes to recognize, most gratefully, the care provided by the Hospice staff of Central Washington Hospital. Our mom raised six children by herself ("and a lot of Hail Marys"). She always put the needs of others ahead of her own. Hers was a life of service. She taught us to live compassionately and to die with dignity, humility and trust in the Lord. May she rest in peace. A Rosary will be said in the chapel of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wenatchee on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at 10:30 a.m., immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in the church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be on Friday, April 3 at 11:30 a.m. at Eden's Cemetery on Guemes Island. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley.

Constance R. Dempsey

November 19, 1907 - March 27, 2009