Jaunita Maxine Connely

Broken Bow, NE – Jaunita M. Connely age 95 of Broken Bow passed away on April 25, 2018, at her home in Broken Bow. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 30, 2018, at 10:30 AM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow with Pastor Todd Karges officiating.  Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery.  Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.  A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 29, 2018, 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Govier Brothers with the family receiving friends 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  Memorials are suggested to the Omaha Children's Hospital or the Custer County Foundation. Jaunita Maxine (Maier) Connely was born March 9, 1923, to Michael J. and Thressa B. (Price) Maier at Callaway, NE. The family lived north of Callaway until she was three, then moved to a farm south of Callaway where she attended a country school. In 1936, she moved to Rose Valley, northeast of Broken Bow. It was at the Rose Valley School that she met John Connely and the two were married on April 5, 1941. Together they raised a family of three, Judith, Claris and Kay. Jaunita enjoyed the country life including raising chickens and planting a garden and flowers. She also loved to sew and create which led to joining Ilene Powell in opening The Fabric Center in Broken Bow in 1961, which they operated until 1974. During this time she especially enjoyed helping the young people with their 4- H projects. Following the death of John on June 2, 1982, she moved to Broken Bow where she again worked with sewing at Ben Franklin's fabric department. On October 7, 1989, she married long-time friend Dean Gracey. She made one final move in February 2015 to Off Broadway apartments. In March 2018, she celebrated her 95th birthday there with her friends and staff. She is survived by her two daughters, Judith (Jesus Moreno) Connely of Spring Valley, CA and Kay Kapustka of Cambridge, NE, and one son Claris (Charlene) Connely of Broken Bow; 5 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Reta Miller of Broken Bow, stepdaughter Jill Strong of Grand Island, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, and son­ in-law Gary Kapustka