Constance Espiritu

On July 4, 2025, Constance (Connie) Henry Espiritu, age 78, passed away at the Hospice Care Center in Port Orange, Florida. Connie was born to Claudine Jelm and Thomas Henry on January 13, 1947, in Lebanon, Tennessee. Everyone who knew her knew she was a fearless adventurer. At just 16 years old, she was crowned Miss Ormond Beach, a testament to her beauty and grace. Her adventurous nature took her across the country to California as a teenager, where she continued to explore and grow. In the 1960s, she studied yoga and meditation with the legendary Yogi Bhajan, embracing a path of inner discovery and mindfulness. Constance was a trailblazer in her community, becoming the first female volunteer firefighter for the City of Port Orange in the 1970s, breaking barriers and inspiring others with her bravery and dedication. She had many occupations in her lifetime, but all seemed to revolve around engagement with people. Connie was a go-go dancer, bartender, volunteer firefighter, entrepreneur (Earth Arts and Crafts), manager of a furniture store in Texas, the list goes on and on. She was a mother to three children, and she instilled in them her love for adventure, curiosity, and resilience. Connie is predeceased by her grandparents, Edward and Edna Hunter, mother and father, and her daughter, Dawn Marie Keller. She is survived by her sons, Alan Robert Keller, III and Ernesto (Tito) Espiritu, sister, Janine Rinaldi (Michael), brother, Richard Jelm, several nieces and nephews, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a light that will be missed by many. Donations can be made in her name to the Halifax Humane Society.