On Sunday, Jan. 24, Connie Zehner took her last breaths on this plane, succumbing to pulmonary fibrosis, a lung condition of unknown cause that has no known treatment.

Born in 1948 in Munich, Bavaria, Cornelia Gabriela Lipp was always a bit of a rebel. She preferred reading and the outdoors to attending teas and learning to be a “lady,” as her family felt was appropriate. A love of books came naturally, owing to her father’s publishing business; Connie never lost her fascination with that world. Her professional resume reflects her experience in the publishing world, from copyediting to layout to writing, even authoring a German-language cookbook of traditional recipes (with a cup of humor) and several anthologies. She came to the U.S. in 1982 to open the American offices of a German publishing house, and met Jan Zehner in the course of her work in Washington, D.C. They were married in March of 1984, and spent four years in Zambia with the Foreign Service. There, Connie got involved in helping local artists market their crafts. Then followed three years in Vienna before returning to the States and life on Orcas Island. Over the years on Orcas, Connie volunteered in a number of venues, in recent years at the Healing Arts Center in Eastsound. She supported many people with her wide knowledge about alternative medicine, which she loved to research.

When Connie and Jan parted in 2005, it was with mutual respect and affection.

From her earliest days, Connie was a strong advocate of nature. She loved being outdoors, hiking, skiing, gardening, swimming, or just sitting in the sun. She loved birds, shoes, romantic old Italian movies, a good adventure, chocolate, espresso, good food with good wine, laughing, dancing, and helping others. She was unfailingly generous to causes and people she loved.

To the end, Connie maintained her characteristic humor and her infallible caring for others. She is much missed in our community, and in the community of spirit that she inhabited so brilliantly.

Connie is survived by her brother Dieter, her niece Sabina, and her nephew Fabian, of Munich, Germany.

Submitted by friends of Connie Zehner.