Connie Sekaros

Constance A. Sekaros (October 30, 1947-August 1, 2023). Connie was born in Ann Arbor Michigan to a Greek-American family. Her parents insisted that their children embrace their Greek heritage; Connie excelled in Greek school becoming a fluent speaker and reader of both ancient and modern Greek. She attended the University of Michigan where she studied English and classics; winning a prize in excellence from the Classics Department at the University in 1967. She moved to Philadelphia in 1969 to attend graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania on a fellowship. After completing a Masters from Penn, Connie took a position teaching humanities and literature at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia where she remained for 22 years. During this time, she developed a deep interest in Jungian phycology and its relationship to myths. She was active for many years in the Philadelphia Jungian community and gave many lectures for the local Jung Center. Over the years, other studies included classics courses at Bryn Mawr College, and a Masters in Comparative Literature from Rutgers University.

Connie’s other great interest was music; as a child she studied piano and flute and played in her junior and senior high school bands. As an adult, she acquired a self taught knowledge of classical music and attended many musical events in Philadelphia. It was at one of these events in 1986 that she met her husband Joseph Showalter, a musician and music educator in the Philadelphia schools. They married in 1987 and moved to South Philadelphia where they lived the remainder of their married lives. Connie changed careers in the 1990’s, and obtained another Masters degree from Temple University in ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) and became a teacher of English to language learners in the School District of Philadelphia. She found great satisfaction and joy in watching young immigrant students progress and gain confidence in English and other academic subjects. Connie also taught reading and writing courses at Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) for many years.

With her outgoing personality Connie charmed everyone she met. Whether she was walking or shopping in the neighborhood, in a restaurant, riding on a bus, or waiting in line at a concert or play she would often engage with total strangers. She particularly loved discussing and sharing ideas related to English and Greek literature, music, house plants, and psychology. Her hobbies included needlepoint, house plants, attending cultural events, and above all, reading.

She started to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease around 2020. In typical fashion, she learned all that she could about the disease and tried for as long as she could to battle its effects of the disease. She will remembered by all who knew her as an honest, loyal, and generous friend and confidante.

She is survived by her husband, Joseph W. Showalter, sister and brother-in-law Diane and David Ferguson, as well as many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sister Evelyn Commings, her mother, Faye Sekaros, and father Daniel Sekaros.

Donations can be made to the animal shelter of your choice.

Services entrusted to the Joseph J. McGoldrick Funeral Home and condolences may be made at: www.mcgoldrickfh.com