Constance F. "Connie" Small

constance small
Constance “Connie” Small of Vienna, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home with her family on January 20, 2021. Our precious and beloved matriarch will be held in our hearts forever.

She inspired her family with her intellect, volunteerism, and outgoing personality.

Connie graduated from Mt. Holyoke College with a French major and Spanish minor. Later, she earned a master’s degree in Linguistics. She was the first member of her family to attend college, and graduated early in order to marry the love of her life, Leo J. Small, now 90, on Valentine’s Day 1953. Always up for adventure, she flew with him from her hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts to their first home in Taipei, Taiwan. Together, they raised a family on three continents.

Mom’s motto was “A stranger is just a person you haven’t met yet.” She loved everyone and enjoyed learning about different cultures and customs. She was blessed to have been able to travel and live throughout the world.

Connie was an active volunteer into her 80’s. She and her husband worked for Meals on Wheels, and she helped with the annual McLean AAUW fundraising book sale. She was an enthusiastic volunteer for THIS and enjoyed welcoming the spouses of diplomats to the Washington area, learning about their homelands and speaking with them in one of the many languages with which she was familiar.

Connie loved music her entire life and always managed to find a choral group to sing with wherever her family’s travels took them from Monrovia, Liberia to Frankfurt and Munich Germany. She was an alto with the McLean-based New Dominion Chorale for many years.

Connie is survived by her husband of 67 years, Leo; her children, Cynthia Roubie, Michele Goldenberg (Marty), Linda Klotz, Leo Small III, Catherine Stephens (Dale); seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her sister Gladys McPherson and one grandson.

Services will be held Monday, January 25 at 1:00pm at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna, Virginia. A private interment will follow.

Charitable contributions can be made to Catholic Charities or McLean AAUW College Scholarships, P.O. Box 1002 McLean, VA 22101.

To leave online messages of condolence, please visit: www.MoneyandKing.com

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Guestbook

  1. Sending heartfelt condolences to the family of Connie Small. I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but her daughter Catherine’s stories about her conveyed what a special and gifted woman she was.

  2. In loving remembrance of Constance Small, from Catherine’s Book Group: Hank Dahlstrom, Colleen Robichaud, and Christine Schultz.

  3. I joined McLean AAUW in 1982 so have known Connie for years. Her contributions of her time, skills, and service to the branch are numerous, and she will be missed very much. I will miss seeing her at all our events.

    • Thank you for your kind posting, Ms. Pickens, and for passing along to us your memories of our Mom. She truly loved working with people such as yourself – and just came home refreshed and uplifted from such interactions. Your memories mean alot to us and we fully appreciate your sharing. Thank you. The Small Family

  4. My sincere condolences to you, Leo, and all of your children and grandchildren. Connie was a beloved member of the McLean branch of AAUW. I had the pleasure of working with her for many hours on our book sales. She was always so engaged and welcoming to all of us. She will be very missed. Betsy Schroeder

    • Thank you, Ms. Schroeder, for your kind remembrance of my mom. She loved working the book sales with people such as yourself. She truly gained love and energy from being around people. Your memories add to my dad’s own and are much appreciated. Thank you. The Small Family

  5. Catherine, your mom is now resting in peace and watching over you and your Family with Love.

  6. I enjoyed working with Connie at the AAUW Book Sale. She was always so friendly and interested in helping others. I will truly miss her. I know she will be blessing every future book collection and sale. Love, Laurie Warhol

    • Thank you for remembering our Mom and for your kind comments. It warms our hearts to hear from those who warmed her heart. She loved working the book sale and truly believed in its cause. Thank you for the image of her blessing all future book sales. I’m sure she will, yourself included. The Small Family

  7. My condolences to Connie’s wonderful family. Connie was always the gracious hostess as we met in her home for AAUW Branch events – book club, great decisions etc. And she was such a willing volunteer for the book sale. She is missed by many. In thanksgiving for her life. Mary Lou Melley

    • Thank you, Ms. Melley, for your warm memories of my mom. She honestly enjoyed hosting and attending the AAUW events. She was uplifted by interactions with people such as yourself. Thank you for sharing your memories, they bring us warmth and love. The Small Family

  8. I’ll always remember Connie’s welcoming smile as she welcomed the many diplomats in THIS. She made good friends with so many of the ladies, and kept in touch with them over the years. She gave them a positive feeling about our country. She’ll be remembered by all who knew her. Margie Shanklin

    • Thank you for your kind remembrance of our Mom, Ms. Shanklin. She truly enjoyed working with people and learning about others’ lives, loves and cultures. Your remembrance of her brings warmth to us. Thank you. The Small Family

  9. As a fellow member of Connie’s at THIS for Diplomats, I often had the special pleasure of seeing Connie and sharing meetings either at THIS gatherings or at social meetings with diplomats stationed in Washington DC. It was always a special pleasure to be in Connie’s company. She was a kind, warm and super-intelligent person who never made much of her many accomplishments. I always admired her multi-cultural and linguistic talents, which she used to enrich other people’s lives. She exuded friendliness and goodwill. She was indeed special. And she will indeed be much missed! My sympathy to Leo, of whom she always spoke to lovingly, and to her children and grandchildren. Beatrice Fitch

    • Thank you for your sharing your lovely memories of our Mom, Grandmother and Great Grandmother as well as my dad’s wife. The details in your posting bring a special warmth to our heart. She loved working with people and learning about their cultures and lives. Your memories enrich ours, Thank You. The Small Family

  10. May fond memories of your wife and mother help comfort you during this hard time. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

  11. I got to know Connie through the THIS English Conversation with Children group. She did’t have children in the group, but was always willing to bring diplomats that needed a rides. She made a social effort to enrich the lives of many diplomats and their children, as well as the lives of the other volunteers. I cherish my memories of her.

  12. We had the pleasure of getting to know Mrs. Small as our warm and witty neighbor. She will be missed. Our deepest sympathies to the Small family.

  13. Connie was a dear person who was deeply committed to our organization (THIS for diplomats). She will be greatly missed. I knew her for many years and I will feel her loss. My sincere condolences to her family.

  14. I have such fond memories of volunteering with Connie through THIS. For years, Military Attache Spouses got involved in THIS because of her presentations to their group, and I was blessed to continue in that role after she asked me to help her. She was a kind, thoughtful person and wonderful to work with. It was a privilege to know her. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Please accept my deepest sympathy.


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