A final goodbye to a special Rosie
One of the last Rosie the Riveters has died.
Earlier this month, Connie Palacioz died at age 101. About 15 months ago, I was honored to be invited to her 100th birthday party, aptly named the “party of the century,” at the home of Connie Palacioz, a Newton, Kansas, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and Rosie the Riveter.
A petite 4-foot-8-inch Connie, a dynamo, spent three days celebrating her birthday with her ever-present trademark smile. Several family events preceded the private celebration of her 100th birthday Jan. 16, 2025, and a large extended family gathering Jan. 17. The weekend culminated Jan. 18 at the B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center on the grounds of Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita.
Connie was part of what journalist Tom Brokaw called the Greatest Generation because men and women put their own lives on hold to focus on winning World War II. Connie’s role was to work at Boeing.
Starting at 50 cents per hour, she eventually doubled her wage, a testament to her hard work and dedication, the Congressional Record states. In her role, she supported production of the nose sections for the aircraft, manufacturing four sections each day. With the help of her partner, Jerri Warden, Connie contributed to the assembly of 1,644 B-29 bombers during the war, including Doc.
After World War II, she left Boeing in 1945 and, like many other Americans of that era, went about her life. Connie was driven to become a successful cosmetologist and to raise her four children. Those stories never get old; unfortunately, she was one of only a handful of men and women still here to relate those stories of sacrifice.
If she thought her role as a riveter was finished, she would politely smile. Years later, she was not done with Doc, which was headed for an extensive restoration project.
Doc returned to Wichita on flatbed trailers in May 2000, and volunteers began reassembling and restoring the B-29. Palacioz was one of the volunteers who helped with the restoration.
At age 97, Connie was honored as the inaugural member of the Kansas Women’s Hall of Fame in Aviation. In June 2024, she was part of a delegation that went to Normandy, France, as part of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
That story can be found at https://hpj.com/?s=Connie+Palacioz
When her life ended April 19, her family said she was ready to take flight on a new journey. I had the opportunity to visit briefly with Connie on Easter Sunday, and although she did not feel well, she wanted to make sure I was doing OK.
The Doc center will host a celebration and memorial service from 1 to 5 p.m. May 1 at 1788 S. Airport Road, Wichita. A funeral is planned for 10 a.m. May 4 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 861 N. Socora St., Wichita. Burial will follow in the afternoon. Funeral services are under the direction of Downing & Lahey Mortuaries & Crematory—West Wichita.
Fly high, Connie Palacioz—a true national hero.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
