Constance A. Irwin (Connie), 88, of Brookings died on January 6, 2023 at the United Living Community in Brookings, South Dakota. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 13, at 2:00 p.m. at the Pius XII Newman Center at 1321 8 ^th Street in Brookings. After mass, everyone is invited to share memories and fellowship in the church basement.  Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Connie was born in Armour, South Dakota on January 24, 1934 to Evelyn (Leonard) and Michael (Cal) Carmody. On June 5, 1965, Connie married Paul Irwin, who throughout their marriage still often referred to her as his "bride." Their son, Mike, was born in 1968 and passed away in 2010. Paul passed away in 2019.

Connie's post high school education began with taking a secretarial course at Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls. After working as a secretary for five years in the insurance industry, she went to Mt. Marty College in Yankton, where she graduated with a BA in Social Services. She worked as a case worker for the state of South Dakota for a year, and then attended St. Louis University, where she graduated with a Masters in Social Work.

The rest of her career and life was spent working for social justice. She worked primarily within the South Dakota Department of Social Services in the areas of foster care, protective services, and services for seniors and persons with developmental disabilities. She was an Adoption Specialist with the state and for a time had a private social work practice specializing in foreign adoptions.

Connie was an activist in her community. She was a member of the Advisory Board of Brookings Hospital Home Health; founding member and chairperson of Brookings Area Coalition on Aging; member of Family Support & Family Selection Committees for Brookings Habitat for Humanity. She was an active volunteer, including during the 2022 election, for the Brookings County Democrats.

Connie loved to read, garden, travel (especially to Ireland) and learn about all kinds of social justice causes. She loved her Pax Christi group and her Stand for Peace group.

Connie is survived by her brother Mike Carmody (Armour), her niece Marsha Ellsworth (Omaha, NE), her niece Kelly Carmody (Phoenix, AZ) and several other nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and dear friends.

If you would like to make a donation in memory of Connie, suggested organizations are the Southern Poverty Law Center, Doctors Without Borders, ACLU, Amnesty International, the Salvation Army, or a charity of your choice.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the following address for forwarding to the family:

The Family of Connie Irwin C/O Eidsness Funeral Home
1617 Orchard Drive
Brookings, SD 57006