Obituary of Constance D. Townsend

Constance D. Townsend (nee Kalmes) passed away peacefully on Friday, October 3, 2025, at the age of 91. Born and raised in New Jersey, Connie was a lifelong resident of Riverside and a cornerstone of Lippincott Avenue.   She was the beloved wife of the late Arthur R. Townsend, devoted mother of Colleen Townsend, Leslie Trebilcock (Jack), Robin Terreri (Mike), Michele Gordon (Jeff), Lori Townsend and Connie Carucci, dear sister of Karen Senior (Gary) and the late Bill Kalmes (Jonni), adoring grandmother of 12 and loving great-grandmother of 12.   Early on, Connie was employed as a banquet server and later dedicated her time to being a homemaker.  When her girls were young, she was active with the Girl Scouts. She also participated in the Shade Tree Committee. Connie enjoyed spending time gardening – anything she touched would blossom. She had a passion for painting bird houses, crafting and antiquing with her husband, Bob. The two enjoyed traveling on cruises and visiting the casinos together. Her favorite time of year was the Christmas season. Hosting Christmas Eve with her ever-growing family was something she eagerly awaited each year. No Christmas season was complete without her famous fruit cake and coleslaw shared amongst family and friends. Connie loved to spend her summers on Long Beach Island scanning the beach for seashells and playing miniature golf with her grandchildren. She was always the first one invited to play mahjong with her girlfriends or stop by the neighbor’s porch to sip a glass of wine and swap stories. Connie touched many people’s lives and everyone who had the pleasure of loving her will always carry fond memories of her in their hearts.   Relatives and friends may pay respects to the family on Friday, October 24, 2025 from 10:30 am until 11:00 am at the St. Stephen Episcopal Church, located at 324 Bridgeboro Road, Riverside, NJ.  Service to follow at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Arbor Terrace, Mt. Laurel Holiday Bonus Fund, 785 Centerton Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054.