Connie Louise Hannum, known lovingly to her family as "Wonder Woman," passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon, with loving family by her side. Born prematurely with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in Prineville, Oregon on October 8, 1958, she earned her nickname by overcoming the 3:1 odds against the survival of babies with CRS with a lifetime of strength, determination, humor, a vibrant nature and joyful spirit that inspired everyone who knew her.

In 1979 Connie graduated from the Oregon State School for the Deaf. She was clever, inquisitive, quick to grasp mechanical concepts and had a wonderful sense of humor that lit up every room she entered. She was frequently able to “Connie” people into having her way or getting things she wanted and enjoyed, while both giving and enduring good-natured teasing! She enjoyed bowling and handicrafts, as well as playing card games with family, board games on her iPad and delighted in reading Marvel comic books (especially anything featuring Wonder Woman), watching cartoons, and assembling jigsaw puzzles. A prodigious crafter, she turned out scores of crocheted potholders, tote bags and “gift wrap” squares and bags with great frequency. Countless family members and friends across the country treasure her unique and special gifts to this day.

Connie was a valued employee of Goodwill Enterprises in Eugene for more than 33 years, where she earned recognition as "Employee of the Year" and was even featured in a giant-sized photo decal displayed on the side of a Goodwill donation truck. For the last 22 years, she was a vital and lively member of her group home in Eugene, basking in the friendship and loving care provided by Tracy Johnson and his staff.

Connie loved to travel, either flying solo or with family, spending many happy weeks with her sister Cindy and brother-in-law Pete when they were stationed in Hawaii, Guam, Scotland, Germany, or on both coasts of the United States, or taking ocean cruises up and down the West Coast to San Francisco and Alaska or traveling by train or bus to visit her sister Susan and family around Oregon. She charmed fellow visitors and staff alike at Disneyland while visiting her nephew David, niece-in-law Becky and great niece Amira Saunders, where she defeated a Syth Lord and restored order to the galaxy (thank goodness!!). But her true touchstone was the family vacation home known as "Hannum's Hideaway," a cabin built by her late father and mother in the National Forest near the Deschutes River outside La Pine. There she helped chop firewood, gathered pinecones, raked needles, "supervised" the chores of others, and warmed herself in front of a roaring fire. She loved to help with remodeling, playing foreman, pulling nails, and even learned how to use a chop saw!

An accomplished helper in the kitchen, she loved to cook and had a fondness for salmon and river trout caught by her father or brother-in-law Judd, brownies, grilled shrimp, bacon, soda pop and macaroni ‘n cheese and anything that called for garlic powder!

Connie was preceded in death by her father, Cecil; her mother, Liz; her sister Marsha; and her brother Pat. She is survived by her sisters, Cindy Saunders (Pete) and Susan Alexander (Judd), and her brother, Steven Hannum (Clara), sister-in-law Ellen Hannum and multiple nephews and nieces.

A family Celebration of Connie’s Life will be held at Hannum's Hideaway near La Pine in the summer of 2027. Donations honoring Connie's memory would be welcomed by the World Health Organization campaign to protect children from measles and rubella at: (https://who.foundation/campaigns/elma-match), the American Kidney Fund at: (www.kidneyfund.org), The National Kidney Foundation at: (www.kidney.org) or any charity or organization serving disabled or multiply handicapped persons.