Connie Chapman was born at the Innishowen Private Hospital, in Inverell on July 2,1929, just at the time of the commencement of the Great Depression.
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She was the daughter of Mary and Ray Daley, of Lockana at Nullamanna, then Chisholm Street in Inverell, and had a twin brother and sister, Murray and Yvonne, both of whom still reside in Inverell.
She received her early education at the Ross Hill School. Then when her father was sent to Narromine during the war to help build air strips and aerodromes, Connie and her mother followed and moved to Dubbo. There she completed her primary education at Dubbo Girls School.
On returning to Inverell Connie commenced secondary school at Inverell High School. On leaving high school she found out that Rockmans was going to put a branch in Inverell, so she applied for and was given the job prior to the store's opening.
Connie worked there right up to the time she married Ralph Chapman in 1952, who had an electrical Contracting business with his Brother Harold in Inverell. They built their home in stages, with two boys arriving, Terry in 1953 and Howard in 1957. She remained in her home right up until the end.
Ralph passed away on November 29 1963, and she had to go back to work. But Jo Ferris from Fuller and Gunsen (as it was then known) needed a staff member as one of his was sick and they were having their annual sale. He gave her the job for two weeks, that lasted for 28 years.
During this time she was made manageress of ladies wear. She loved working at that store because the staff were all so nice and all got on so wonderfully together. Even to this day after all those years, the girls still get together for a night out. The most recent occasion was Connie's 90th birthday last year.
Connie's enjoyed her retirement. She travelled (both overseas and annually to the Gold Coast), played golf, and maintained her passion for her garden. There were also regular trips to see family and an expanding group of descendants, which now number six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
She fulfilled her wish to live out her life in her own home, fiercely independent and able to drive herself around and care for herself right up to the final weeks of her long life, despite having contracted an aggressive skin cancer that required four operations.
Connie passed away aged 91 years of age and will be missed by all that knew her, and came into contact with her.
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