Constance Lenore Felton Elias Rakity

WEST CORNWALL — With deep sorrow and love, we share the passing of our dear beloved mother, Constance Lenore Felton Elias Rakity who died peacefully at age 96 on Friday evening, Sept. 29, 2023, with her daughter Leslie and family in West Cornwall, where she had resided happily for the last few years of her life.

 She leaves behind three devoted daughters, Janet, Viki and Leslie, three devoted sons- in-law, 8 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, a loving stepson, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many good friends who adored her and will never stop loving her!

Connie was born on Jan. 31, 1927, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She attended PS 197, James Madison High, Brooklyn College and The University of Wisconsin where she studied science. She received an MA in education at Adelphi University.

Connie was a one-of-a-kind woman, a wonderful human being full of curiosity, spirit, courage, love, laughter, poetry, song, dancing, rhythm and an ability to create playful joy wherever she was and whomever she was with. She was one of the kindest, sweetest, loveliest and most generous people in this world. She fought for social justice from a young age, helped in the war effort during World War II, helped co-found and run a cooperative nursery school in Long Island, taught science to children and found her passion as a landscape and portrait photographer. At 86, she made a courageous move to Israel known as Aliyah to be near her eldest daughter and family who span four generations. She lived an active life in Jerusalem, exhibiting her special photographs which demonstrated her innate affinity for nature and the world of the imagination.

She was a pioneer donor in the Sadna, a school co-created  by her daughter Janet to serve special needs children and adults (where Connie’s grandson Hanan now lives and flourishes). She was a great supporter of Technion University in Israel and The Southern Poverty Law Center in the United States. 

At 91, she moved back to America and lived with both her daughters, Viki in New Hampshire and Leslie in West Cornwall.

Mom loved gardening, animals, children, puppets, poetry, playing the piano, dancing, quilting and making pottery. In her last years, she enjoyed playing her tambourine tirelessly in time to her favorite musicians such as Harry Belafonte, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Pete Seeger, Bach, Brahms, Beethoven and all kinds of music. She made everyone smile as she was always ready to recite her favorite poem “The Owl and The Pussycat” by Edward Lear. She helped everyone around her, actively engaging in life, people and community. She was a dedicated supporter of Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater, a nonprofit co-founded by her daughter, Leslie Elias. 

The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers who helped support her through her last few years and through the VNA and hospice. The love and kinship she engendered around her was truly remarkable. We all are humbled and grateful for the time spent by her side. 

Connie always wished for racial equality, tolerance and world peace. She created peace around her.

 A celebration of her life with music will be held this winter in her home in Cornwall.  

Donations in her name Constance Rakity can be made to Southern Poverty Law Center: www.splcenter.org and to The Technion Fund www.ats.org/giving/technion-fund/ The Technion funds innovative solutions to humanity’s most pressing challenges through scientific research and education. From advanced health and medicine to revolutionary technologies that enhance our quality of life to a more sustainable planet, join Technion’s brightest minds in creating a better future for Israel and humanity.