Constance "Connie" Rose Markis
Oct 2, 1952 -
Sep 22, 2025
Constance "Connie" Rose Markis, 72, of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away on Sept. 22, 2025, nine days before her 73rd birthday, after a 26-year battle with lymphoma that she beat many times – post treatments she was able to hike the Chilkoot Trail, the Resurrection Trail, tour New Zealand, float the Yukon and Noatak rivers and many other trips throughout Alaska, Hawaii and the Lower 48, always proving that life after cancer is possible. She was surrounded by her children and her loving husband of 50 years, Bill Markis.
Connie was born on Oct. 2, 1952, to her beloved mother Wilma and her father Harley Brakeall in Springfield, Ohio. After Connie graduated from Shawnee High School in 1970, she went on to study nursing at the Community Hospital School of Nursing, receiving her RN in 1975.
In 1971, Connie met Bill at the Mug & Jug in Springfield, a watering hole that still exists, and still serves cheap domestic beer. They were married on the Summer Solstice in 1975. Connie and Bill shared an adventurous spirit and love of travel, so it didn't take much convincing by Bill to get them to move to Anchorage. Soon after, Connie and Bill went on to have three children, Joel, Laura and Ian, which they brought on their many adventures to the Lower 48, Europe, Canada, and all over Alaska, especially to their cabin in Hope, which is still a beloved second home for all family and friends alike.
After moving to Anchorage, Connie worked for the Alaska Native Hospital for a couple of years before starting at the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, where she worked for 36 years before her retirement in 2019. In that time she was an RN Case Manager, a Nurse Educator and Coordinator of the Healthcare for the Homeless Program. She was passionate about serving unhoused persons in Anchorage, running clinics at the Brother Francis Homeless Shelter, volunteering with Homeward Bound, connecting her patients with resources that they needed and frequently collecting items for personal care or warm clothing for her patients underneath her desk. In fact, she inspired many other employees at the Health Center to collect items as well, and by the time she retired ANHC had created a dedicated space called "Connie's Closet" to store such items for anyone in need. She received many awards and accolades from various service organizations for her tireless efforts, and was even granted a day named in her honor by the mayor upon her retirement, in recognition of her service to Anchorage's homeless population. Connie Markis Day is April 26, and if you are called to do so, you can make a donation to your local shelter of clothes, personal care items, time or money.
Connie had such a warm and generous spirit, and showed affection and love to everyone she ever crossed paths with. So much so that there are family friends in Germany, Holland, New Zealand, and all over the world that were met on hiking trails or at the river fishing. Connie loved the great outdoors, or "Church of Nature" as she called it, and was an avid hiker, speedskater, biker, runner, cross-country skier, snowshoer and, in her earlier days, you could even find her riding a motorcycle.
Connie was known for her interminable joyeux de vivre and infectious good spirit. She never let another's birthday or holiday go by without a celebration, which always included a thoughtful gift and handmade card, complete with handwritten poem. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and dear friend to the whole world. A healer, a poet and constant adventurer. In fact, Constance was the perfect name for her: she was constant in her love of family, her devotion to friends and her commitment to a cause.
Connie was predeceased by her mother, Wilma; brothers, Keith and Gary; and nephew, Jeffrey. She is survived by her dear husband, Bill; children, Joel, Laura and Ian; her children's spouses, Courtney, Dimitris and Naomi; grandchildren, Harbor and Fiona; nephews, Gregory and Kevin; brothers-in-law, Charles and John; sister-in-law, Christina; and several cousins and extended family.
A celebration of life will be held in summer 2026 in Alaska; please contact her daughter at lauramarkis@gmail.com for more information. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Light the Night, an organization Connie felt strongly about that raises money to fight blood cancer – you can find a team organized in her honor under "Friends of Connie."
