Connie Faust

*******Service date & times updated:  The funeral service for Connie has been postponed until further notice due to a family illness. However the visitation will still be held on Sunday, May 23rd from 4-6 p.m. at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home.

Connie Luanna Sweitzer Faust, 63, of Hartville, passed away in the early hours of May 17th.

She was born August 19th, 1957 in Alliance, Ohio to Henry and Maryanna (Simmons) Sweitzer. She graduated from Marlington High School in 1975, from Ohio Valley University in 1978, and Oklahoma Christian University in 1980. While in Oklahoma she met Joe Faust, whom she would marry in August of 1980. They were married 41 years.

Connie had many passions with her faith preeminent on the list. Connie's second love was teaching. She expertly wove these passions together, teaching others about her faith and giving faith to those with a love of learning. She was also passionate about family, and spent many an evening calling relatives and updating them on family news.

A woman of action, she strove to live Christ's teachings and was a lifelong member of the Alliance Church of Christ. She was employed as an educator and taught Biology for several years at Campbell County Middle School in Gillette, Wyoming. Upon her return to Hartville, she taught English at Stark State College. She acted as a substitute teacher for several local school districts as well. Connie also taught Sunday School classes and tutored children of the congregation who needed extra help with Math and English.

Connie's pursuit of knowledge never ended. She enjoyed exploring new locations on various day trips, reading, singing, and attempting to train her greyhounds. She was an excellent cook and treated food preparation as performance art.  She loved nature and her background in biology allowed her to identify many plants and animals. Family trips with Connie were filled with visits to museums, science centers, and local historic sites; however, even a simple errand into town would provide opportunities for her to learn or teach something new.

Connie's life also included a rich history of community service. A self-professed extrovert, Connie never knew a stranger and her heart was open to everyone. She and her husband, Joe, spent 13 years playing Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus at the Hoover Historical Center. Connie also advocated for downtrodden women and was a vicious defender of women's rights. She courageously spoke out against injustice. She worked hard to instill courage in those she knew who came from circumstances of abuse without demeaning them while still respecting their autonomy. After surviving a catastrophic illness, she became an active member of the Mercy Amputee Peer Group of Canton. Connie was also an outspoken advocate against misinformation disseminated by opponents of greyhound racing.

Connie is preceded in death by her dear father and is survived by a host of those who loved her. As the keeper of family lore, she could give an extensive list of those surviving her, including exactly how they are related. However, because she is no longer with us, this list is woefully inadequate, but includes her husband, Joe Faust; children, Benjamin Faust and Abigail (Robbie) St. Louis; Mother, Maryanna Sweitzer; siblings, Kirby (Janice) Sweitzer, Sue Ann (Larry) Ray, and Joanna (Randy) Allen. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Allison (Tommy), Jeff (Glinda), Anthony (Sandi), Clint (Emily), Aleta (Lucas), Joel (Annie), and Keith. She is also survived by several great-nieces and nephews and her two retired racing greyhounds, Dexy and Ivan.

Visitation will be Sunday, May 23rd, 2021 from 4-6 p.m. at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S Union Ave, Alliance.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alliance Church of Christ or to Greyhound Adoption of Ohio, 7122 Country Lane, Chargin Falls, Ohio, 44023.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 South Union Ave Alliance, Ohio 44601.