Connie BRANDES

Connie BRANDES, 80, of Wellsville, NY, passed away Monday, July 28, 2025 at home surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with glioblastoma. A two-time polio survivor, Connie demonstrated resilience and strength throughout her entire life.

Born June 28, 1945, in Wellsville, she was the daughter of Lee and Roberta Church Meyn. On June 10, 1967, she married Robert E. Brandes, who predeceased her on April 26, 2015. They loved to travel together, and among their favorite destinations were Scotland, Ireland, and Peru.

As a teenager, Connie enjoyed spending her summers in Ecuador and carried a deep affection for the country throughout her life. She sponsored a Compassion Child from Ecuador for most of her adulthood and had the meaningful opportunity to meet him in person.

Connie was raised in Andover, graduating from Andover Central School and continued her education at Clara Maass Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Belleville, NJ where she became a registered nurse. Connie worked at Bethesda Hospital in Hornell, NY, The Good Shepherd Bookstore, and the Highland and Manor Nursing Homes in Wellsville. Most of all, she was a farmer’s wife, diligently helping her husband own and operate their dairy farm. As a lifelong Christian, she was active in her church communities, teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and arts and crafts. Most recently she was an active attendee of the Genesis Bible Church of Scio.

She was very dedicated to her family and is survived by a son, Brian (Deborah) Brandes of Wellsville, NY; as well as two daughters, Stacy (Mark) Fanton of Cabot, PA, and Amy (Michael) Hunt of Wellsville, NY. She was a loving grandmother to Tyler, Carter, Alex, and Hunter Brandes; Heidi (Patrick) Albert, Lindsey and Andrew Fanton; Walker and Hayden Waldon, and Camdyn Hunt; and her new great grandson, Hudson, whom all brought great joy to her life. Her sister, Marianne (David) Scoins of Myrtle Beach, SC, sisters-in-law Elizabeth (Brandes) Gallmann and Judy (Brandes) Reuning and many nieces and nephews will also remember the good times on the farm and the weekend 4:00 pm coffee breaks.

Connie will also be fondly remembered by her dear friends from nursing school, Ann Ward and Betty Duffy, her cousins, as well as the women from the Tuesday morning Bible class and the close-knit community of neighbors from 23 North Main. In addition, the family thanks the caregivers who tirelessly cared for Connie during the last nine weeks of her life.

Friends are invited to call on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Genesis Bible Church, Scio. A Memorial service will follow at 1:00 pm in the church with Rev. Mark Chamberlain presiding. Please consider memorial donations to Allegany County Cancer Services, PO Box 534, Wellsville, NY 14895 or to Compassion International at compassion.com to give a one-time donation or sponsor a child, in honor of the child Connie lovingly sponsored for many years. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Cremation and J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home, Inc., Wellsville, NY. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wellsvillefuneralhome.com.