Connie Mahnke VanNess

I have been married now for 55 years -- hard to believe how time flies. After high school, I went to work at Tenneco Oil Co as Executive Secreatry in the HR Dept. and also worked for MW Kellogg in Advertising while my husband was in Viet Nam. We moved to Daytona Beach in 1978 where our children were rasied and I was the secretary for the Senior Pastor at our church for 10 years. Our children attended Warner Christian Academy which was started by our church. Our beautiful daughter was murdered while working at a fast food restuarant in 1992 while her brother was in the army. In 1993 we then moved to Virginia because my husband was transferred -- he worked for a Government agency in DC. We are now retired and enjoying the sunny life in Daytona Beach. I recently decided I wasn't ready for retirement, so I am working where I worked over 20 years ago. I have a great job and great hours (noon to 5pm). Our son graduated from James Madison University with Business Degree and Johnson & Wales University with a culinary degree and works for Marriott Copr for 10 years. He died July, 2022 from cancer. I am so lost without my children but know they are in Heaven. I have finally retired and so glad I did.

I always enjoyed my school friends because alot of them I knew since kindergarten.