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Connie Moore

May 21, 1951 - June 5, 2022
Grand Rapids, MI

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At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Spectrum Health Foundation: Expressive Arts Program Fund #35664
25 Michigan Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Send checks to: Spectrum Health Foundation
25 Michigan Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Life Story / Obituary


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Connie Kay Moore (Miessen) departed this world on June 5, 2022. Born in Noblesville Indiana on May 21 1951 to Kenneth Karl Miessen and Jane Autumn Miessen (Herrin), she was the first of four daughters, living in Cicero, Indiana. Her family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan when she was five years old, and Connie remained a Grand Rapids resident for life, graduating from Northview High School in 1969.

Connie was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Carl Miessen; uncles Donald (Miriam) Miessen; Doc (Crystal); uncle Gene Herrin (Joan), and aunt Joan Herrin Estes; brother-in-law Greg Chipman; and former husband, Bruce Kemp. She is survived by her mother, Jane Autumn Miessen, of Grand Rapids; sisters Beth (Kevin) Hannig of Gilbert, Arizona; Lou Anne Chipman of Overland Park, Kansas; Diane (Butch) Weeda of Grand Rapids; her husband, Tom Moore; and her step-children, Quixada Moore-Vissing of Thomaston, Maine; and Christopher Moore-Vissing of Exeter, New Hampshire; brother-in-law, Jerry (Kathy) Moore of Columbus, Indiana; and sister-in-law, Judy (Troy) Hill of Westport, Indiana.

In addition, there are many nieces and nephews, including Christin (Rob) Prokopy and their children, Robert and Keira, of Belmont, Michigan; Kay Don (Wendy) Weeda of Grand Rapids and their children, Morgan Doane of Phoenix, Arizona; and Ashleigh McComb of Battle Creek, Michigan; Ben Chipman and Lexi Kilgore and their daughter, Ruby Jane, of Lawrence Kansas; Matt Chipman of Kansas City, Missouri; Holly (Jason) Olsen of Queen Creek, Arizona and their children, Kaden and Rylan; Casey (DJ) Perzanowski of Gilbert, Arizona and their children, Beau and Kyla; Matt Moore of Columbus Indiana, Tyler Hill (Jennifer) of Reno, Nevada and their daughter, Hannah; and Justin Hill of Greenwood, Indiana.

Connie is also survived by cousins Robbie Herrin of Nashville, Indiana, and his children Christopher (Kristen) and Samantha; Julie (Chuck) Muncy of Martinsville, Indiana and their sons Taylor and Samuel, John (Cristy) Herrin of Lebanon, Indiana and their children, Travis and Maggie; Denny (Cathy) Miessen of Noblesville, Indiana and son, Darby; Becky (Paul) Barnes of Newago, Michigan, and their daughter, Hope; and Richard Miessen of Big Rapids, Michigan.

Following graduation from Northview High School in Grand Rapids Michigan, Connie was married to Bruce Kemp. She worked at Anderson-Krupp Arts Supplies and Fisher Drummond before finding her niche with Visiting Nurses Association, working as a home health aide, where she touched many patients and family members. She worked on the Hospice team serving individuals with chronic and terminal illnesses. Connie was known to enter challenging and demanding situations with calmness and precision, deftly addressing medical and emotional issues. Perhaps her work ethic is best summed up by her refrigerator magnet “to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”

Following her retirement from VNA, she worked for Miss Lynne’s Cleaning Service, forming a life-long friendship with Lynn Saigeon (Mike), her daughter Leigh Cadena, and son, Casey (Cara) Cadena. There are many other friends in Grand Rapids, from Northview High School, work situations, as well as other contexts. These include but are not limited to Evie Leeman, Nancy Aukeman, Marianne (Tim) Doyle, Jean Hendricks, Wendy (Frank) Savickas, Dan (Karen) McCoy of Carmel Indiana, Charity (Rick) Zink of Fishers, Indiana, Danny McCoy of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Patti Letsinger of Gaston, Indiana.

In 1984, she met her future husband, Tom Moore, and they married in 1991, her death occurring just days before their 31st wedding anniversary. They lived both in Comstock Park and Grand Rapids Michigan.

Connie first encountered cancer eight years ago, and if it is possible to sail through that condition, she did, typically requesting to stop and eat on the way home from treatment. Following surgery and chemotherapy, she entered one of the most rewarding periods of her life. Through Lemmen-Holton Cancer Center, Connie began attending Restorative Yoga, Healthy Steps Lebed Exercise class, and Expressive Arts. During this time, Connie established a completely new group of friends, a huge accomplishment and dynamic change of course in life for a true introvert. In 2022 calendar for the Expressive Arts Program, Connie’s painting adorns the month of July. In addition, she joined a book club that met monthly and thoroughly enjoyed the array of food, comradery, and discussion.

Unfortunately, another episode of cancer emerged in October 2021, and although approaching this recurrence with determination and courage, she was not as fortunate. Even during this episode, Connie found the time to touch her professional caregivers at Spectrum and Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion. Her trust, respect and admiration were apparent for her oncologist, Amy Vander Woude, M.D., Nurse Practitioner, Emily Parker, N.P. and nurses both in Interventional Radiology (Nellie) and Infusion (Jackie).

Although Connie dedicated herself to a work career, she found energy and enthusiasm in other areas of her life, including family, gardening, art, reading, as well as numerous arts and crafts. What will probably be missed most by friends and family includes her humor and laughter, spunk, sense of fairness and justice, warmth, passion/zest for life, and appreciation for beauty in all forms (art, music, nature and people). Connie especially regretted losing her enjoyment of food, as she loved many cuisines, and eating in the home, at family gatherings and in restaurants.

Perhaps the ringtone that her husband, Tom, selected for her best typifies Connie. It is from the Van Morrison song Tupelo Honey:

“She’s as sweet as tupelo honey

She’s an angel of the first degree

She’s as sweet, she’s as sweet as tupelo honey

Just like honey, baby, from the bee”

Connie’s family wishes to thank everyone who sent cards, commented on the Caring Bridge website, prayed, and offered support in any way. There will not be a formal service. Contributions are requested for the Spectrum Health Expressive Arts Program Fund #35664. Please send to: Spectrum Health Foundation, 25 Michigan Street NE, Grand Rapids MI 49503.

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