Obituary of Cornelia "Connie" Ellen Huschilt

Cornelia (Connie) Ellen Huschilt, aged 96, formerly of LaSalle, Ontario, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 13, 2024. Daughter of Charles LeRoy Kolb and Grace Augusta Schultz, of Michigan, brother of the late Charles Jr and his wife Lovona (Dena) Jenkins. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Dr. John Huschilt, eight children Mary Anne Piaget (Sylvain), Ruth Rotulo (Carlo), John Hush (Louise), Joe (Jill), Kathy Aluri (Raj), Peter, Paul (Joel), and Karen Gordon (the late Owen), 22 grandchildren, and a symphony of great-grandchildren. Born in Pontiac, Michigan in 1928, Connie’s passions were her family and music. She held a bachelor’s degree in Music from Calvin College in Grand Rapids and met her future husband while a graduate student in Music at Michigan State. Connie was a school teacher for several years in Michigan before starting her family. Connie held certificates in music from the Western Ontario and the Royal Conservatory of Music. She taught piano, voice and music theory privately for more than 60 years. Four weeks before she passed she was sight-reading Bach at her piano. Connie was passionate about choral music. She was the Choir Director at Sacred Heart Church in LaSalle and later at St Gabriel’s in South Windsor. Connie was recognized as the LaSalle Citizen of the Year in 2000 for founding the LaSalle Community Choir and directing it for over 4 decades. Connie loved to travel. In 1970, she and John courageously packed up all 8 kids and took the family on a sabbatical in Neuchâtel Switzerland, squeezing everyone into a three room apartment and squeezing them again into a Volkswagen camper to explore Europe. In 1979, they again went on sabbatical with the 4 youngest teenagers in Stuttgart, Germany. Later, she and John travelled much of the world following solar eclipses, graduations, weddings, and so many interesting cultural sites. Connie loved to paint. Her watercolours included everything from historic buildings to flowers and landscapes. She will be remembered for her laugh, her smile and her joy. She was a staunch supporter of many causes including NPR, education, healthcare, and groups that help people out of poverty. Connie was an active member of the Zonta Club of Windsor. We will miss her greatly but are so grateful to have had her in our lives for 96 years. If she could say it now to all of her friends and the crew at Chartwell St. Clair Beach, she’d say “Lovely to see you, and thank you for all that you do”. A memorial for friends and family will be arranged at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is creating a music scholarship at the University of Windsor in Connie’s name. If you wish to support this endowment, please visit: https://www.uwindsor.ca/supportuwindsor/donate-ConnieHuschilt, and include the comment: Connie Huschilt In Memoriam.