Constance Brousseau, 79

Constance “Connie” Ann Brousseau, 79

Constance (Connie) Ann Brousseau, age 79, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away on Aug. 31, 2021, at the Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Connie was born Aug. 23, 1942, to Francis and Sylvia Brousseau in Little Falls, Minn. She grew up in Eagle Bend, Minn. and graduated from Eagle Bend High School in 1960. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Home Economics from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn. in 1964. She was the first person in her family to go to college. In 1967 she married Marvin Paul Sannes and moved to Denver, Co. Together, they adopted two children; Marne and Paul. They divorced in 1979.

Connie received her teaching certificate from Colorado State University in 1982. She taught at Fort Collins High School for 10 years. Connie loved learning. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree, she earned her Master of Arts in Adult Christian Community Development from Regis University in Denver, Colo. in 1986 and her counseling endorsement from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. in 1989. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Colorado in 1996 and established a private practice. After moving to Washington, she pursued a 13-year private counseling practice at St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood, Wash.

She married a long-lost friend, Zel de Priest on Dec. 4, 2012, and moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho shortly after. Zel succumbed to heart failure in 2015.

Being a builder’s daughter, Connie loved interior decorating, gardening, and journaling. What she loved most was creating small communities. She did this at Fort Collins High School, creating the PACE program, teaching RCIA at the various parishes she belonged to, and creating small groups and retreats through her counseling practices.

Connie is preceded in death by both of her parents; her infant brother, Ned Brousseau; her infant nephew, Mark Schnettler; sister, Janet Schnettler of Clarissa, Minn.; and her husband, Zel dePriest. Connie is survived by her sister, Judy Hinzman of Eagle Bend, Minn.; sister, Beth Brousseau of Long Beach, Calif.; sister, Mona Chapman of Norwood, N.Y.; son, Paul Brousseau of Post Falls, Idaho; daughter, Marne Sannes of Seattle, Wash.; son-in law, Daniel Brewer; and her grandchildren, Ian, Zach and Cayden.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 919 E. Indiana Ave., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Connie’s online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com