Constantine "Connie" Ostermann

The Honourable Connie Ostermann E.C.A.

It is with love that the family of Constantine “Connie” Elaine Ostermann (née Oel) announces her peaceful passing on September 26, 2026. A loving matriarch, a community advocate, and a dedicated public servant, Connie leaves behind a legacy that spans the fields of her Carstairs farm and the halls of the Alberta Legislature.

Connie was born at home on June 23, 1936 in Acme, Alberta to Pauline and Louis Oel. A childhood tomboy, she was feisty and determined from an early age. She attended Acme School and beginning in 1946, Calgary’s Stanley Jones before graduating from Crescent Heights High School. As a young girl, her favorite place was alongside her father, Louis, trailing him in his blacksmith shop and riding shotgun across the rural roads as he called on local farms. After school she drove a delivery truck for her father’s implement dealership and worked in Woolworth’s Five and Dime on 8th Avenue in Calgary. After graduation, she worked in the map reproduction lab at Socony-Vacuum Oil.

On July 28, 1951, Connie met the love of her life, Joe Ostermann, at a Schutzenfest in Little Britain, Manitoba. They were wed on October 30, 1954, beginning a loving marriage and lifelong partnership that endured for 70 years.

Connie and Joe shared a passionate relationship throughout their many decades together, defined by a love for one another and for their family. They worked hard and played hard, a team who helped each other achieve their shared vision of a loving home and family, a thriving farm, and a joyful life together. Whether managing the daily demands of the farm and raising a family, or navigating the pressures of Connie’s demanding political career, they stood side-by-side, each serving as the other’s greatest supporter.

In 1956, they moved to Vulcan to work on her uncle’s farm—living without power or running water—before establishing their own farm east of Carstairs in 1958. It was here that they raised their five children and built a welcoming home that hosted large family gatherings, home-cooked meals, a large garden, a yard filled with flowers and trees, and a beautiful pond.

Connie filled her home with a love for music and dancing, a passion she joyfully passed down to her children and grandchildren. From the sounds of John Denver to Neil Diamond, music was the constant backdrop to farm life. She had speakers positioned throughout the house, on the deck, and even in the roundhouse saloon. As she went about her work, Connie could be found clicking her fingers, dancing, and singing along throughout the day.

A woman of deep faith, Connie’s life was guided by an enduring spirituality. She was a devoted Catholic whose relationship with God was woven into her relationship with the world around her. She had a deep connection to nature, recognizing the abundance of God’s gifts when she harvested the garden and crops. Above all, Connie saw the best in people; her faith was not just practiced in the pews, but lived out through the empathy, hospitality, and dignity she extended to every person she met.

Connie’s journey into politics began at her own kitchen table in 1966. When a Calgary Power line expansion impacted the family’s rural property, Connie took action. She knocked on doors and organized local farming families to fight for their property rights in a group aptly named “Power to the People.” Her grassroots courage directly catalyzed the passage of the Surface Rights Act in 1972.

Her intellect and advocacy for individual rights led to her appointment to the Alberta Human Rights Commission from 1973 to 1978. Connie was elected President of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies in 1977-1978. In 1979, she was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Three Hills constituency. In 1979, the Honourable Peter Lougheed appointed Connie as Progressive Conservative Party Whip, the first female Party Whip in the British parliamentary system. She also served as co-chair of the Conservative Caucus from 1979 to 1982. In 1982, Connie was appointed Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, making her only the fifth woman in Alberta’s history to serve in the provincial cabinet. The Honourable Don Getty appointed Connie as Minister of Social Services and Community Health, as well as Minister of Career Development and Employment. Throughout her political career, she was remembered as a defender of conservative values—family and community, personal responsibility, limited government, and free enterprise.

Connie resigned her seat in the legislature in 1992 but never ceased her public service. She brought her governance experience to the board of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. As President of the Head Injured Relearning Society, she championed community-based programming for brain injury survivors. For her contributions, Connie was awarded the Rotary Integrity Award in 1999, the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005, the Global News Woman of Vision Award in 2012, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Connie’s last role in public service was as a Director with the Alberta Champions Society.

Following her retirement from politics, Connie caught the travel bug and embarked on trips around the world with Joe. Together they collected many beautiful memories and made lasting friendships. Their journeys were defined by an adventurous spirit that was ambitious for their age, with rafting trips down the Nahanni, Burnside, and Colorado rivers, along with backpacking in South America.

Central to Connie’s life was her unconditional love for her grandchildren. Every summer, she welcomed them to the farm for weeks at a time—working together, taking them camping and canoeing, and enjoying late afternoons on the pond. Through it all, Connie taught her grandchildren the value of hard work, the joy of play, and how to enjoy time together at the end of the day.

Connie possessed a love and appreciation for fine art, holding a fascination for the intricacy of how each piece was made. Over her lifetime, she collected and brought home paintings and art from around the world—striking portraits of people, sculptures, and local crafts. She held a special place in her heart for artwork depicting owls. Together, these treasures transformed the Carstairs farmhouse into a fascinating art gallery. Her collection has now found new life, gracing the homes of many family members.

Connie was predeceased by her loving husband, Joe Ostermann and her sister June. She is survived by her sister, Alberta St. Pierre; her brother-in-law, Ernie Ostermann; her five children: Theo (Diana), Kurt (Val), Kim (Tom), Kelly (Den), and Joe Jr. (Nadine); her sixteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The Ostermann family extends their gratitude to the staff of Bethany Didsbury for their care of Connie. Heartfelt thanks are also extended to Teresa Pochapsky for years of service landscaping the yard, cooking meals, and driving to appointments; and to Colette Herman, whose service for many years perfectly fulfilled Mum’s high standards for a spotless home. Both Teresa and Colette provided an invaluable connection and friendship to both Connie and Joe on the family farm.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Carstairs, Alberta. Following the mass, a Celebration of Life will take place at the Carstairs Community Hall at 12:00 PM. All who knew and loved Connie are welcome to attend and share in honoring her remarkable life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Bethany Didsbury: https://bethanyseniors.com/community/bethany-didsbury/

If you are unable to attend please feel free to watch the Live stream links of the Funeral Mass as well as the Celebration of Life

Funeral Mass: https://vimeo.com/event/6247830

Celebration of Life: https://vimeo.com/event/6247839