Connie Elkins

Constance “Connie” Amelie D’Arensbourg Elkins passed away peacefully at her home in Clifton, Texas, on her own terms, surrounded by the people and land she loved. She left this world with her trademark twinkle and enduring spirit, just as she had lived for 95 remarkable years.

The Rosary will be recited at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, September 29, 2025, at Clifton Funeral Home. Visitation will immediately follow the Rosary from 7:00-8:00 P.M. Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at Holy Angels Catholic Church.

Born in Vacherie, Louisiana, on June 1, 1930, Connie lived there until marrying Luther C. Elkins on April 14, 1951, at St. Philip Catholic Church in Vacherie. Together they raised five children—Eric, Vicki, Brent, Dean, and Lisa—while making homes in New Orleans, Atlanta, and Dallas before retiring to Clifton in 1990.

A devout Roman Catholic, Connie’s faith sustained her through times of profound loss, including the passing of her father, brother, husband, and eldest son in less than two years. Despite this heartbreak, her resilience and faith never faltered. She was an active member of her parishes at St. Rita (Dallas) and Holy Angels (Clifton), volunteering in various ministries and teaching CCD. She was the heart of her family, a matriarch whose love and strength shaped a legacy of closeness—one her children and grandchildren proudly describe by saying, “we not only love each other, we actually like each other too.”

Connie’s life was marked by a sense of fun and adventure. She was an accomplished bowler, an enthusiastic stock market player, and a sharp card player who never shied away from competition. She adored sports, even if they sometimes sent her into hiding—watching her sons’ Jesuit football games and track meets from under the bleachers, and later cheering for the Cowboys and her beloved LSU Tigers from the safety of the kitchen because watching from the den “made her blood pressure too high.” And when the music played, she was always ready to dance—rumor has it she may have danced on a few tables back in her day.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Gerald F. D’Arensbourg (1996); her husband, Luther C. Elkins (1996); and her son, Eric S. Elkins (1997). She is survived by her sisters, Margaret D. Newman and Claire D. Hollier; her children, Vicki E. Wall (Mike), Brent L. Elkins, Dean R. Elkins, and Lisa E. Goncalves (Gab); 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons James Elkins, Alex Elkins, Eric Elkins (in absentia), Brodie Elkins, and Gab Goncalves, and her great-grandsons Owen Sullivan (in absentia), Rory Sullivan, Shane Sullivan, and Jack Elkins.

Connie will be remembered not only as a beloved friend, sister, mother, and Nanny, but also as a woman whose faith, humor, and zest for life inspired everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her family and friends will miss her deeply, but her legacy will live on in the shared moments of those whom she loved, and who loved her.

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Eric S. Elkins '70 Memorial Scholarship Fund at 12345 Inwood Road, Dallas, Texas 75244 or online at http://jesuitdallas.org/giving/memorials