UNITED NATIONS, Mar 31 (APP):Maria Consuelo Almonte, a Filipino-American national, who served the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations in New York for a record 43 years, has passed away after prolonged illness. The cause of her death on Thursday was cancer, according to family friends. She had initially recovered from the disease, but it came back. Connie, who worked for the Mission's Information Section, was awarded the coveted Tamgha-e-khidmat …
Former Pakistan UN Mission employee passes away in New York
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 31 (APP):Maria Consuelo Almonte, a Filipino-American national, who served the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations in New York for a record 43 years, has passed away after prolonged illness.
The cause of her death on Thursday was cancer, according to family friends. She had initially recovered from the disease, but it came back.
Connie, who worked for the Mission’s Information Section, was awarded the coveted Tamgha-e-khidmat in 1998 in recognition of her exceptional services and dedication to Pakistan. She received the award in Pakistan where she went, accompanied by her husband, Mark Shaffer, who died a few years ago.
She took retirement from the service a few years ago.
During her long service, she assisted more than a dozen Press Ministers/ Consulars and Press Attaches at the Mission.
She worked hard to serve media teams accompanying visiting Heads of State/Government and ministers. For the UN Press Corps she remained a face of the Mission for decades.
Connie, who is survived by her daughter May, will be buried on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi said she was “deeply saddened” over her death. She said Connie served the Mission with “diligence and dedication.”
