Connie Eilenberger Elias
NEW CUMBERLAND, PA – Connie Eilenberger Elias, 73, of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Friday, July 12, 2024, at her home. Ms. Elias was born on December 16, 1950, in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, to the late Willard E. Eilenberger and Dr. Ofelia Mondejar Eilenberger.
Following a successful career as an inventory specialist for the federal government, Connie dedicated her years in retirement to the welfare of community cats, serving as a foster parent to hundreds of cats and kittens and taking every opportunity to remind others about the importance of spaying and neutering.
Connie was passionate about celebrating life’s journey with friends, dancing, and taking occasional drives in her sports car with the top down. What she lacked in physical stature, Connie made up for tenfold in personality and her passion for the causes that were close to her heart.
Connie’s Cuban heritage and Lutheran faith were very important to her, and her favorite holiday was Christmas. In fact, she loved Christmas so much that she had an animal themed Christmas tree in almost every room of her house, and she would often leave the trees up year-round.
Connie was survived (briefly) by her loving feline companions. She is also survived by many friends, countless cats that were fortunate to call her their “foster mommy”, and some family members, most notably her aunt, Blanca Mondejar, of Miami, FL.
A private celebration of life will be held at a later date by invitation. If you would like to honor Connie’s legacy, please donate in Connie’s name to the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (www.snapofpa.org) P.O. Box 126702, Harrisburg, PA 17112-6702, The Nobody’s Cats Foundation (www.nobodyscats.org) 3909 Hartzdale Drive, Camp Hill, PA 17011, or your favorite animal welfare charity.
The Sullivan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Elias family.
7 comments on “Connie Eilenberger Elias”
Connie was a dear, kind-hearted friend of mine for 50 years, having met her in the mid 70’s at the Navy base in Mechanicsburg, PA. Drove her to Clearfield, PA to pick up her Dodge Viper in pouring rain; she drove that beast home un daunted by the downpour. We just recently learned of her passing; we will miss her hours long phone calls and laughter, the dedication she gave to the homeless felines, and mostly her love for nature. Rest Peacefully .
On behalf of Castaway Critters Animal Rescue, we honor Connie for her unwavering dedication to the many foster kittens in her care over the years. Connie had a special and unique love for the smallest and most vulnerable neo-natal kittens and she was a skilled caregiver. The world needs more of people like Connie. Thank you for all you did Connie and Rest in Paradise.
Everyone at Nobody’s Cats is inspired to know that more community cats will live healthier and happier lives in her memory and that fewer will be born into an uncertain future. We are honored to be included in memorial contributions.
Connie was loved by so many for her dedication to the cats in our community. She saved countless kittens by providing amazing bottle-feeding care to those babies who needed her so desperately. For any of those fur-babies that may no longer be here…I hope she crossed the Rainbow Bridge with each and every one. My friendship with Connie dates back to the 80’s when she worked with SNAP. Connie also believed fervently in TNR and actively supported Spay/Neuter organizations as well as rescues. She will be so missed.
Connie cemented her legacy with the Central PA animal welfare community throughout her caring, selfless life. She gave her time and her resources energetically and happily, I know that I am not alone to say that I miss her, and will forever remember her smile when she was bottle-feeding tiny kittens, and when she kissed them goodbye as they went to loving fur-ever homes.
My heart aches for you, Connie. Every day. She dedicated her life to the cats and kitties that would otherwise be discarded without knowing true love and commitment. Connie was a “champion” of many causes, but always about cats. Thank you for saving my babies, for bottle feeding them and cautioning me that they never slept. They still never sleep and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Hugs and purrs and kitty bumps that I know you are receiving from beyond the rainbow 🌈 bridge for all the kitties that you touched.
Connie was such an amazing person and my husband and I were heartbroken to hear of her passing. We first met Connie when looking for a new kitten to add to our family, she had the perfect one, named Saturday, who immediately snuggled with my husband.
Connie was so sweet that we actually kept in touch through out the years. When our cat unexpectedly got very sick and passed, Connie called me, cried with me, sent us a beautiful card and really helped with the grieving process.
She was so kind and loving, and cared SOOO deeply about the cats that she fostered and adopted. My husband and I will never forget her.