By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Constance Orendorf’s passion for music brought her around the world and, finally, to Maine.

Orendorf moved to Saco last year to be closer to her three grandchildren and watch their musical and theatrical performances. She died Sunday after being struck by a van as she walked to church. She was 74.

Deputy Police Chief Charles Labonte said Orendorf, who lived on Clark Street, was crossing Main Street on her way to church around 9:40 a.m. when she was struck by a van driven by Walter Fleury of Old Orchard Beach.

Orendorf was on a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Main and Cleveland streets when she was hit, Labonte said. She was transported to Maine Medical Center where she later died, he said.

Labonte said Fleury, 66, was driving a 2000 Chrysler Voyager van. He was charged with operating under the influence after failing field sobriety tests.

Orendorf’s daughter, Cara St. Louis- Farrelly of Saco, said her mother, who went by the nickname Connie, was “fiercely independent” and passed on a lifelong passion for music to her children and grandchildren. After earning a degree in piano and bassoon from Western State College in Colorado, Orendorf supported her two children by teaching music and later working as a technical writer.

Orendorf taught music to Pueblo children in New Mexico while working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She also taught music in Guam and traveled to other places overseas for work, filling her home with souvenirs from her travels, St. Louis-Farrelly said.

“She worked and lived all over the world,” her daughter said. “Travel was a big thing for her.”

St.Louis-Farrelly said her mother’s passion for music was evident throughout her life. Orendorf earned a piano scholarship to attend college and sang with a band to further pay for her education.

“The piano was always going in our house, she was always playing,” St. Louis-Farrelly said. “(Music) is fundamental to who we are as a family.”

A year ago, Orendorf decided to move to Saco from Albuquerque, N.M., to be closer to her daughter and three grandchildren, Hal, Anastasia and Duncan. St. Louis-Farrelly said her mother did not want to miss any of the children’s performances.

St. Louis-Farrelly said her mother quickly fell in love with the arts programs at Thornton Academy and was “thrilled” her grandchildren have the opportunity to participate. Hal graduated from the school in June and Anastasia is an incoming sophomore. Duncan will enter eighth grade this year.

St. Louis-Farrelly said all her children are involved in the arts and Duncan aspires to be a music teacher like his grandmother. Orendorf attended all Thornton Academy shows, even if her grandchildren weren’t performing.

“She saw everything that everyone did,” St. Louis-Farrelly said. “That was her form of entertainment. She absolutely adored it. People tell me that’s all she ever talked about.”

After moving to Saco, Orendorf began attending Trinity Episcopal Church, where she started the Adult Children of Alcoholics group. A soprano, she also sang in the Voices in Harmony choir.

St. Louis-Farrelly said the accident is a “horrifying” thing to think about, but the family is grateful to police and others who helped her mother at the scene. Church members rushed to her mother’s side after the accident and stayed with her until family arrived at the hospital, she said. She was surrounded by her family when she died at 2:40 p.m.

St. Louis-Farrelly said all are welcome to attend a memorial service scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 19, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Saco.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.