Obituary of Constance Klaner Cross

Constance Klaner Cross, 96, of Reston, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, January 4.

A graveside service will be held at noon on Sunday, January 12, at Chestnut Grove Cemetery, 831 Dranesville Road, Herndon, Va., followed by a celebration of life at the home of Jeff and Laura Cross, 12218 Quorn Lane, Reston, Va.

Connie was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Fred and Gladys Klaner on April 6, 1923. She was a graduate of Roycemore School and attended Bradford Junior College. Although she was just 5’2”, Connie was captain of her high school basketball team. She married Lt. James J. Cross Jr. in 1946 and was a career Navy wife and president of the JAG wives at Great Lakes Naval Center, Illinois. Connie belonged to the Junior League of Chicago and was a longtime volunteer with the Red Cross. A lifelong Episcopalian, she loved her cottage in Deltaville, Va., where she spent many years with family and friends. She enjoyed birding, sailing, golfing and playing bridge, and she was still playing bridge two weeks before her death.  

She is survived by her son Jeff Cross and his wife, Laura, and their children, Fred, Katie and Laura; her daughter Cissy (Cross) Hutton and her husband, Peter, and their children, Bridgit, Colleen and Hannah; and her son Pete Cross and his wife, Christie, and their children, Chloe and Chanthy. She took great joy in her four great-grandchildren, Cameron, James, Lila and Lucas.  Connie is preceded in death by her husband, James, who died in 1985, and their son Frederick Willard Cross, who died in 1970 while serving in Vietnam.