Obituary of Connie Walker

A vigil will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1208 11th Ave. SE, Olympia, WA, followed by an appetizer and wine reception. Connie Walker Connie Walker, 64, of Olympia, died on Monday, May 23, 2011, at St. Peter Hospital, surrounded by family and friends with the support of Providence St. Peter Hospital Palliative Care Services. Connie arrived in Olympia in 1998 and quickly made the Northwest her home. She loved the ocean, the mountains and the slower-pace environment Olympia offers. Connie is best known as Director of Mission and Spiritual Care Services at Providence St. Peter Hospital. She served various religious and community organizations, many of which were directed to serving the poor and the vulnerable, especially the homeless. She also initiated the No One Dies Alone program at Providence St. Peter Hospital and the Clinical Pastoral Education. She also initiated the Parish Nursing Program at St. Michael Catholic Parish, Olympia. She was a member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, St. Michael Catholic Parish and Interfaith Works of Thurston County. She served nationally as a Certified Catholic Chaplain and locally in her parish with Social Justice, Beyond Just Faith, and Centering Prayer. At the heart of her faith journey, Connie once described herself as “contemplative at heart in a non-contemplative world.” She served on several committees the past 13 years with Associated Ministries (now Interfaith Works of Thurston County). In 2010, Connie was recipient of the Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen Award for Social Justice, a distinction she cherished. Prior to 1998, Connie resided in Detroit, Michigan, where she served in ministry for 12 years at the Detroit Medical Center and Mount Clemens General Hospital. Her ministry in Detroit encompassed Mount Carmel Hospital, Grace Hospital, Harper Hospital, Detroit Receiving Hospital, and Hutzel Hospital. At Mount Clemens General Hospital, she developed and built a pastoral care program. In 1997, she was invited to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. It was in this last role that she found both a home and a ministry that was full of challenges and opportunities for which she never seemed to tire. She was born and raised in Clairton, Pennsylvania, and began her ministry career at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Dormont, PA, and later with the Sisters of St. Joseph, Baden, PA. Connie is survived by a sister, Mary Ann Walker of Clairton, Pennsylvania; brother and sister-in-law, Leo and Cynthia Walker of Auburn Hills, Michigan; two nieces, Lindsay (Kyle) Russell of St. Joseph, MI, and Jennifer Walker of Rochester, MI; also a grandniece, Sophia Russell and two grandnephews, Kolton Russell and Ethan Russell all of St. Joseph, MI. A vigil will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1208 11th Ave. SE, Olympia, WA. followed by an appetizer and wine reception. On Thursday, June 2, 2011, a Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 12:00 noon at St. Michael Catholic Church, Olympia. Connie requested before her death that, in lieu of flowers and other items, donations be made to the Providence St. Peter Hospital Foundation, 413 Lily Rd NE, Olympia WA 98506, c/o Connie Walker. To leave remembrances or condolences, please click on "View Guestbook" below.