Connie Mae Lessard, the former owner and publisher of the Four Seasons shopper in Hayward, died Jan. 28. She was 85.

Lessard, who was born March 28, 1933, in Shreveport, La., met her husband, Robert Lessard of Hayward, Wis., when he was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base near Shreveport. They married in 1952 and moved to Hayward, where they started a family.

Lessard was well known in Hayward for her role with the shopper, a companion piece to the (Hayward) Sawyer County Record.

Lessard is survived by children, Russ Lessard, Robyn (Mike) Shattuck, Rick Lessard, and Rhonda (Phil) Novak; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one brother, Terry Wright; and three brothers-in-law. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert, on March 3, 2014; one sister; and several brothers. Her joyful attitude and faithful loving spirit will be missed.

A celebration of life is being planned by the family for a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Barbola Funeral Chapel of Berlin. Online condolences may be sent to the family at barbolafc@yahoo.com.

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