| Born: | 26/10/1978 |
| Departed: | 30/11/2021 - Sydney, Australia Aged 43 years |
Posted by Divinity Funerals 14/12/2021
Liebste Conny, da bist du von uns gegangen, die wir dich geliebt haben, aus der Ferne und ohne einen letzten Gruß. Es tut mir Leid, wir sind alle betroffen, gab es doch eine Zeit, in der wir uns sehr nahe standen.
Wir werden dich im Herzen behalten, Jürgen, Helga, Lutz, Götz, Rike, Mareike und Anne
Posted by Jürgen v. Goetz und Familie 21/02/2024
Conny was a delight to know, who brought much happiness and thought to people around her. She always went that bit extra and made you feel special in her company. I first met Conny whilst she was a phd student at Northumbria under the caring and watchful eyes of Philip (Shrives) and David (Campbell). What a great team they all made and it was partially through that to which my own research career began to blossom. Fondly, Conny met mself and my wife, Marie, in Sydney in 2016 and for me a second time more recently just before the global Covid pandamic in February 2020. We spent some great times together including a fabulous evening at the Opera House. For those in Sydney or future visits, please look up at the Opera House, have a smile of remembrance and think of Conny.
Posted by Richard Slack 03/01/2022
Querida Conny, siempre te recordaremos tanto en Sidney en agosto de 2016 como en Burgos en septiembre de 2018. Descansa en paz.
Posted by Mar Jimeno-Bulnes 17/12/2021
Myra and I met Conny when she came to stay at Longhirst as a Masters student living in the Northumbria Uni accomodation. Conny quickly became an integral part of the village society and got on very well with our daughter Sara. There was only two months between them and they bonded well. We saw Conny frequently and as a result of that she became almost a second daughter to us.
Everything that was said at the service about her as a person was evident then with warmth, integrity and a fierce intelligence apparent. We watched her take and pass her Master's, then her PhD and lived with her, the strain she went through to ensure her success. We certainly showed more stress than she did. We watched her apply for and get the job at Sydney Uni and then followed her hard work and dedication to succeed at that job. We were very happy that Conny did succeed and that she was working and living in a place she loved.
Conny's battle with cancer was faced as she faced everything else, with courage. a smile and a huge effort to beat the condition.
The world is a poorer place for her passing!
She was beautiful inside and out!
Bob and Myra Jackson
Posted by Bob Jackson 17/12/2021
It was such a privilege to have known Conny. I had the joy of supervising her with my friend and colleague, the late David Campbell. I remember her dedication, integrity and total commitment to her doctorate. David would send her with piles of papers to read (in those days often printed out) and she read every one of them. It was always a joy to see her bright green "bean" Hyundai parked outside the Business School (yes, in those days she had a car!). Conny was often compliant with rules but in this regard she was not because she knew the UK traffic wardens would not be able to track it back to Germany! The meetings with her and chats in the corridor were always a joy. She was always positive even if things went wrong. I remember her German keyboard laptop was stolen with the disc in it (yes she wasn't always super logical!) but she cheerfully went about the recoding of the environmental accounts. I enjoyed working on the papers from her doctorate with her and David. Whether it was chatting informally or in the PhD viva, Conny was a joy to listen to. I am so grateful that she found much happiness with her friends in Australia. We will miss her greatly as she was a bright light in our lives. As bright as that green Hyundai!!
Posted by Philip Shrives, Northumbria University, UK. 16/12/2021
Liebe Conny,
auch wenn wir uns erst in 2019 richtig kennengelernt haben, weiß ich jeden Moment, den wir zusammen hatten, sehr zu schätzen. Die betrifft sowohl unser gemeinsames "Großprojekt" für The Future of Interdisciplinary Accounting Research und das damit verbundene, oft kontroverse Bransortming, aber mehr noch die intensiven, vielfältigen und unterhaltsamen Skype-Konversationen über die Welt, ihr davor und danach, die wir in den vergangenen zwei Jahren hatten. Es tut mir Leid, dass ich nun nicht mehr dazu komme, dir meine sächsische Heimat zu zeigen, aber ich werde dich immer mitnehmen, wenn ich dort bin.
Dein Sebastian.
Posted by Sebastian Hoffmann 15/12/2021
A really beautiful service for a lovely person.
Vale Conny
Posted by Vera Hayes 15/12/2021
Conny first came into our lives when she arrived in the North of England to study at Northumbria University. She lived in the student village in Longhirst and soon became involved both in student and Village life bringing people together and helping to bridge cultural divides. She made firm and lasting friendships in Longhirst which were reignited when she returned for her doctoral studies. My late wife and I were privilaged to have her stay with us for part of that period in her life. My sincere condolences go out to her family in Germany. She is so greatly missed.
Posted by Mike Elphick Longhirst 15/12/2021
Sending my love and wishes to dear Conny and her family and friends at this time. A life taken too soon there's no doubt, but what an incredible life has been lived. Conny, you will be sorely missed by your colleagues at USyd. A special thank you for your wonderful contributions to the social and environmental accounting community and especially for the vision and hope you shared with your students. Blessings, Anna x
Posted by Anna Young-Ferris 15/12/2021
One of my beloved illegally adopted daughters, you came so shy and innocent and bloomed into an independent lady. I loved you then. I loved you when you came back. I loved you when I visited Sydney. I loved you when you were in Leah’s wedding. I loved you when you and Leah were in Canada. I have loved you Conny since the first day I met you!
Your American Mom (Kathy Stanfield)
Posted by Kathy Stanfield, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 15/12/2021
Sincere condolence to Conny's family and friends. She will be missed by the social and environmennal accounting community - especially her good humour and sense of fun. It won't be the same without you Conny - RIP my friend.
Carol
Posted by Professor Carol Tilt 15/12/2021
When my child was born in 2013 there was no doubt. Conny will be her Godmother.
Thanks for giving my little girl so much warmth and love.
Posted by Britta 15/12/2021
Meanwhile sad news arrived in Germany ... I was with Conny at Leibniz Gymnasium, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany, and after a poor start with her I was blessed spending one of the best time of my life with her within she became my best friend.
Unfortunately we lost sight of each other about 20 years ago – that's life! But I have never forgot her and the time with her – from the beginning, a walking-tour in "Pfälzer Wald", our dancing and singing of "Back for Good" from "Take that" in a club in Kiel, a song I would have never ever dreamed of singing, the day she helped me when I had a severe accident with my motor bike, to our - as it turned out only later - last together in a cafe in Neustadt. Though long ago, I would be able telling about so many special moments with her, moments just she was able to make them special ones, if someone asked me to.
And that was Conny: A bright shiny light in people's life being able making everyone and everything one-of-a-kind by having fun with each other, talking about the serious aspects of life and helping each other. And as I am able to read here she did not change. And I am very happy that she obviously found a lot of people making her life great and vice versa after the time she and me had together.
It was a few years ago that I heard Conny had gone to Australia for working at university and I found her website at "The University of Sydney", including phone number. I cannot remember how often I thought of simply dialing this number, especially at 26 October. But I haven't ever. Now it's to late ...
Conny, thank you very much for allowing me being part of your life! From now on there is one more bright shiny light in the sky at night! Farewell to you! Hopefully we will meet again and my thougts are also with your beloved ones and all the people missing you!
Posted by M. B. Wenzel 15/12/2021
Posted by Jenny 15/12/2021
I had the privilage to be Conny's physiotherapist for 3.5 years, assisting her with the managent of some side effects of her cancer treatment.
Over the years we have become close, party due to our German backgrounds, chatting away during treatment, sharing stories about home, family and frequently moaning about the Australian liberal party:-) Our sessions were never dull.
Every Chrsitmas she brought me home made jam in a jar she decorated so tastefully. My receptionist was jelous, as I refused to share my jam :-)
Apart from enjoying Conny's company every time she came for treatment, I also had the opportunity to meet some of her friends at her 40th birthday. A bunch of intelligent, insiring people with lots of interesting stories to tell... just like Conny. There was so much love for Conny in that small room that night in a local French restaurant.
Conny was very matter of fact when she told me her cancer came back. I cried as I treated her that day. Very unprofessional, but she forgave me :-)
Last year I did a little interview with her about her compression sleeves she used to wear on her right arm. I will attach the link for anyone wanting to watch it. It shows her "true colours"... she never wanted to be beige.
Well, my dearest Conny, you were far from it. A colourful, intelligent, insipiring young woman, never afraid to speak her mind. You will be terribly missed!!!! My heart goes out to your family. Love, Orsi
Posted by Orsi 15/12/2021
I was entirely peripheral to Connie's life but I will mourn her deeply. The few times we met I was struck I her obvious integrity, dedication and lovely sense of humour. My deepest sympathy for those closer to her. We have lost a good person far too soon.
Posted by Tony Mandl 15/12/2021
I had the ultimate privilege of meeting Conny when I was 16 and studying German in High School. Little did I know at the time that she would become much more to me than my German exchange student. We became fast friends in the brief three weeks she stayed with my family in Indianapolis, Indiana. We toured around the state of Indiana, visiting Indiana University and the Indianapolis Zoo. One of her favorite activities was riding my family’s horses-she always had a love of horses. Over dinner one evening, we discovered that we said the same prayer before meals, and she taught me how to say it in German. Following her time with me in Indiana, I happily traveled to Germany the next two summers -traveling with her classmates to Italy in 1997 and staying with her family in 1998. Staying true to her word of being in my wedding, she flew from the UK to Indiana again in 2006 to stand beside me on one of the biggest days of my life. I wouldn’t see her again until 2008, when she attended the CSEAR conference in Montreal, Canada. Calling me up one random day in fall of 2008, she told me she was going to be on my continent and asked if I would come to Canada to see her-so I booked my flight. That week was amazing. I got to meet some of her colleagues, catch up with her, and explore beautiful Montreal. Unfortunately, that was the last time I got to see her. Life gets busy with work and family, but Conny always stayed in touch, sending cards and letters frequently and on special occasions.
Conny was a true friend and brought out the best in all those around her. She was just as beautiful inside as she was on the outside, with that contagious smile that would light up a room. Her heart was full of empathy, and she was the best listener. I still can’t believe she is gone, leaving a deep void in the lives of all who knew her.
Ich werde sie immer vermissen. Mit aufrichtigem Beileid, ihre amerikanische Schwester,
Leah Stanfield Porras
Posted by Leah Porras 15/12/2021
I had the ultimate privilege of meeting Conny when I was 16 and studying German in High School. Little did I know at the time that she would become much more to me than my German exchange student. We became fast friends in the brief three weeks she stayed with my family in Indianapolis, Indiana. We toured around the state of Indiana, visiting Indiana University and the Indianapolis Zoo. One of her favorite activities was riding my family’s horses-she always had a love of horses. Over dinner one evening, we discovered that we said the same prayer before meals, and she taught me how to say it in German. Following her time with me in Indiana, I happily traveled to Germany the next two summers -traveling with her classmates to Italy in 1997 and staying with her family in 1998. Staying true to her word of being in my wedding, she flew from the UK to Indiana again in 2006 to stand beside me on one of the biggest days of my life. I wouldn’t see her again until 2008, when she attended the CSEAR conference in Montreal, Canada. Calling me up one random day in fall of 2008, she told me she was going to be on my continent and asked if I would come to Canada to see her-so I booked my flight. That week was amazing. I got to meet some of her colleagues, catch up with her, and explore beautiful Montreal. Unfortunately, that was the last time I got to see her. Life gets busy with work and family, but Conny always stayed in touch, sending cards and letters frequently and on special occasions.
Conny was a true friend and brought out the best in all those around her. She was just as beautiful inside as she was on the outside, with that contagious smile that would light up a room. Her heart was full of empathy, and she was the best listener. I still can’t believe she is gone, leaving a deep void in the lives of all who knew her.
Ich werde sie immer vermissen. Mit aufrichtigem Beileid, ihre amerikanische Schwester,
Leah Stanfield Porras
Posted by Leah Porras 15/12/2021
Conny was a giving, caring and thoughtful person. She always put others first. We met when she was a student at Northumbria University and the happy time celebrating in the evening after her PhD viva is one I will always remember. Conny was good at keeping in touch with friends, always remembering special days and sending cards. Whenever Conny returned to Europe for conferences we would meet and more recently kept in contact virtually. I am so sad to hear the news of her passing and will really miss her friendship, enthusiasm and positivity. We send our sincere condolences to all her family and friends at such a sad time.
Jane Gibbon and Family, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Posted by Jane Gibbon 15/12/2021
I first met Conny when she came to visit our university in Finland in 2018. She only spent a few days with us but I felt like I a had found a soul sister. Sadly, we never had the opportunity to meet again in person. She was intelligent, sophisticated and funny, but above all very kind and considerate. After my mother passed away later the same year, Conny sent me a beautiful hand-written letter. I will really miss her.
Eija
Posted by Eija Vinnari 15/12/2021
Conny in Edinburgh, 2018. She stayed with us for a couple of weeks around the time of the IPA. She had invited me to visit the University of Sydney in 2016, and we became friends. I have know few people with such honesty, integrity and loyalty, and I miss her
Lisa
Posted by Lisa Evans 14/12/2021
We first met Conny when she was a student at Northumbria University (in the UK) and she beame increasingly involved with Longhirst Village in Northumberland. She helped out in many village events, attended church regularly and joined the badminton club. She was so popular that the Parish Council awarded her the "Freedom of the Parish", a most unusual acclamation. She visited Longhirst whenever she returned to the UK and she will be deeply missed. All in all she was a wonderful person and delightful company.
Posted by Peter and Claire Coates, Longhirst. Northumberland, UK. 14/12/2021
Conny was a very good friend and collegue. Full of life, smart and very intelligent. She always made her friends and everyone around her feel so special and went out of her way to support them. She was always there to listen and just being there for her friends. We had so many beautiful memories that I will always cherish. She will be greatly missed. Ronita Ram
Posted by Ronita Ram 14/12/2021
I first met Conny virtually in 2016 as a co-author, then I met her in person a couple of years afterwards in Saint Andrews. In 2019 I had the honour to spend some weeks with her both in Auckland and Sydney. She was indeed a shining star, a beautiful being and a great friend.
All my love and respect for her family in this moment of despair.
Although I am terribly sad I know she would like us to keep the spirits up no matter what. Because of that I am sharing this really happy memory with Conny in Sydney with a message to the sky: We will always have Sydney! :)
Posted by Carla Antonini 14/12/2021
I met Conny at several conferences, and after visiting the University of Sydney in the summer of 2016, we started to work regularly together. Conny became a cherished friend to my family and me.
Conny visited Burgos in 2018 and made a deep impression in the department. She was always enthusiastic about new projects, and we did have plans to meet and work together.
Conny had a charming sense of humor; she was reliable, generous, and honest. She was a good friend.
Conny leaves a deep void.
Posted by Carlos Larrinaga 14/12/2021
We are heartbroken that our dear friend Conny has lost her long and brave struggle with cancer, and extend our sincere thoughts and condolences to her family and many other friends.
Conny was a wonderful person – lovely, kind and thoughtful always. All of us at Tai Chi classes recall her welcoming smile and the quiet, gentle way she would help other students to ensure we were all getting the best out of every lesson.
And her birthday cakes! Another of Conny’s kindnesses, she cared about everyone individually and always recognised birthdays with a healthy, hearty German cake that she made herself.
For someone so accomplished professionally, Conny was extremely modest about her achievements. But when she did tell us about her work it was clear that she cared and thought deeply about the state of the world, incorporating sustainability and concerns for the environment, as well as social justice, as core to her work. Clearly, she still had enormous potential, with the kind of values and intellect that society needs now. It's so terribly cruel that she was taken so young.
Conny was and always will be very special to us. We miss her at classes and at coffee sessions afterwards, but she is always very much in our thoughts and hearts.
The Kookaburra Taichi Group
Posted by Lina He 13/12/2021
Miss you dearly, Conny. Your intelligence, bravery and kindness is forever admirable and memorable. Managed whatever challenges in life, lent people a guiding hand - that was you. When I forgot my taichi steps, you were there for me to follow. To settle my anxiety before my first European trip, you linked me up with your Italian friend who gave me a guided tour in Rome. You encouraged overseas students to ask questions and not be defeated by the challenges of being in a new country. Always remember you, our taichi and coffee time. Wish there was more!
Posted by Jo Kwan (from Lina's Tai Chi group) 13/12/2021
I met Connie with Dave Campbell in Newcastle upon Tyne when she was doing her PhD. Bright and enthusiastic. A great pity we have lost her so soon. I did not know she was ill and am amazed she was accepting invitations to review articles as recently as 2018. Best wishes to her family and friends.
Posted by Carol Adams 13/12/2021
I do not know Conny personally, but I had the opportunity to work with her in the last year of her life on the preparation of a special issue for an academic journal that she was enthusiastic about. I would like to underline Conny's discretion, modesty, great efficiency and kindness. It is with great sadness that I realise that I will not have the opportunity to get to know her better. She is in my prayers.
Posted by Marion Brivot 13/12/2021
