Constance Kaye Woosley Griffin

Constance Kaye Woosley Griffin, 83, passed away on April 10, 2026, at Crawford Memorial Hospital.

Born on May 8, 1942, in Palestine, IL, Connie was the daughter of Alfonzo & Fannie (Rosbolt) Woosley and the oldest of eight children. Being the oldest seemed to set the tone for much of her life. She was a woman who learned early how to carry responsibility, how to keep going when life was heavy, and how to meet the moment in front of her with strength and resolve. Those who knew her knew this well. Connie was a woman of grit and determination, someone who did not spend much time wavering. She gave yes or no answers, never maybe.

She attended Palestine High School, and in the years that followed, her determination continued to show itself in countless ways. While raising her family and working two to three jobs, Connie also attended Lincoln Trail College. It was no small thing. It was the kind of effort that told the truth about who she was: hardworking, steady, and unwilling to quit. Over the years, she worked at Lincoln Trail College, Weber Insurance, and the Palestine Public Library. In each place, she did more than simply do a job. She loved talking with people, helping them, and making herself useful. She was the kind of person who found purpose in serving others.

But of all the roles Connie held in life, none mattered more to her than family. She was a single mother who raised five girls, and she did it with fierce devotion. She poured herself into her daughters’ lives and took deep pride in the women they became. Her love for her girls was unmatched, and her devotion to her family could be seen in the countless ways she showed up, gave of herself, and kept pressing forward for the people she loved.

Later in life, Connie married Kenneth Earl Griffin on April 5, 2002, in Henderson, KY, and began a new chapter in her story. Still, through every season of her life, she remained unmistakably herself: strong-willed, devoted, and full of quiet strength.

Connie also knew how to enjoy life and fill it with beauty. She loved Christmas with a kind of joy that could not be rushed. It took her several months to decorate and several more to pack it all away, and she was more than happy to give the season that much of her heart. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, crafts, painting on saw blades, and flowers. And she knew how to have a good time, too, spending many Saturday nights out at clubs dancing to country music. One of the greatest highlights of her life was attending an Elvis Presley concert, a memory she surely carried with her for years. These things brought color to her life and reflected the creativity, joy, and spirit that lived alongside her toughness.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Earl Griffin; by her daughters, Debra (Brian) Medsker, Rhonda (Tim) Eller, Becky Mikeworth, Kathy (Daron) Hoalt, and Wanda (Jim) Woodward; by her step-children, Lori (Shawn) Elder, Ritchie (Lynn) Griffin, Josh (Brittney Fuller) Griffin, and Samantha (Tim) Vandergriff; by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; by her siblings, Laurie (Ken) Schramer, Linda McCormick, Jeri Hitt, Patricia Miles, Steve (Darlene) Woosley, Carl (Cindy Wallace) Woosley, and Mary (Rick) Lewis; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfonzo & Fannie Woosley.

Private services will be held at a later date. Her remains will be laid to rest in Palestine Cemetery at a later date. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine is assisting the family at this time.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Palestine Public Library, with memorial envelopes available at the funeral home.