Obituary of Connie Pentecost

Connie Marie (Reitan) Pentecost was born to Ralph C. Reitan and Myrtle Marie (Jones) Reitan (in Bremerton) on May 22, 1947.  Connie passed peacefully on May 6, 2020 due to Congestive Heart Failure to join Our Lord Jesus and other family angels who preceded her. Raised in Burien, WA, she graduated from Highline High School in 1965.  Right out of high school she joined the Rainbow Girls and climbed through the chairs to become the Burien Rainbow Girls “Worthy Advisor”.

Soon thereafter, she started working at Boeing in the payroll accounting department where she met the love of her life, Larry J. Pentecost.  They moved to Tacoma where Larry grew up and in 1980 gave birth to their son, Jay Laurence Pentecost.  From the moment of Jay’s birth Connie and Larry became very focused on Jay’s developmental disabilities.  Larry went into early retirement from Boeing to care for Jay 24/7 until Larry’s death in 2011, while Connie worked as a bank branch manager in the Tacoma branches of Puget Sound Bank, Key Bank and Columbia Bank on Pearl.  Their attention to Jay never wavered including Connie setting Jay up with 24/7 care in his own apartment.  Connie, the eldest of three siblings, learned early how to care for her Brother Ralph and Sister Kerry to bridge the gaps between parental work shifts. Having grown up in a loving household she created the same loving and nurturing household in her own right among Larry, Jay, friends and extended family always willing to host holidays and special events for family and friends. She was always a giver to all she knew and loved and never, to the end, ever complained about anything.  Always with a bright and glistening smile she was truly an angel to all of us. 

In raising Jay, Connie and Larry became strong supporters of the Special Olympics where Jay was a regular contestant.  They formed dozens of friendships through their participation in the Special Olympics & Metro Parks Tacoma Specialized Recreation. Connie was also a strong member of the Tacoma North Rotary (1987). She held several board positions over the years including President.  She loved the friends she made over years and is remembered dearly for her generous heart.  Larry, until his death and Connie and Jay were lifelong season ticket holders of the Tacoma Rainiers and the Tigers before that.  A legacy set in motion by Larry’s father, A.L. (AL) Pentecost who is a player-member of the Tacoma Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cheney Stadium. 

We will celebrate memories of Connie’s life at a time following the Corona Virus pandemic. In the meantime, please raise a glass in her honor. Predeceasing Connie is Husband Larry, & Sister Kerry (Mike) Sweeney. Surviving are Son Jay Pentecost, Uncle Bill (Donna) Jones, Brother Ralph (Denise) Reitan, Nephew Garret (Amanda) Reitan, Nieces Morgan (Logan) Reitan, Shannon (Todd) Woodaz, Devan Sweeney, Claire Jo (Michiel) Moore (Great-niece Rachel Moore) and cousins Dan (Cynthia), Maria Jones and Doug (Jodi) Jones.