Thomas S. Connolly

Connolly, Thomas S. WYNANTSKILL Thomas S. Connolly, age 73, beloved husband of Doreen M. O'Connor Connolly, died in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 23, 2008 at home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Troy, he was the son of the late Thomas I. and Mary Strang Connolly. Mr. Connolly was a graduate of St. Francis Elementary School and LaSalle Institute, class of 1952, both in Troy. He went on to graduate from the American Academy of Embalming in New York City. After graduation and serving his apprenticeship at the Abbey Funeral Directors in New York City, Mr. Connolly moved back to his home town of Troy and established the Thomas S. Connolly Funeral Home in South Troy. He moved his family and business to Wynantskill in 1963 where he operated his business and has lived since. In early professional life, he was a supervisor with the NYS Dept. of Taxation and Finance in Albany, retiring due to disability in 1967. While at the tax dept., he took a two year accounting course at Russell Sage College Evening Division. Mr. Connolly was a member of many religious, civic, fraternal and professional organizations. He was a life member and 3rd Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus in Troy transferring his membership to the K of C in Wynantskill, a former president of the Knights of St. Jude, a longtime communicant of St. Jude the Apostle Church, Wynantskill, a volunteer and bookkeeper for the church's horse show, past president of the Holy Names Society for St. Joseph's Church in South Troy, past president and life member of North Greenbush Ambulance Assoc., a member of the Wynantskill Fire Department, past member of the Wynantskill Kiwanis Club, neighborhood chairman of Cub Scout Troy #520, a member of the Troy Lodge of Elks and a member of the Capital District and New York State Funeral Directors Assn. Survivors in addition to his wife include his children, Thomas S. (Sharon) Connolly Jr. of Wynantskill and Kathryn A. (Jeff Brien) Connolly of North Greenbush; his grandsons, Thomas A. Connolly of Wynantskill and Ryan M. Stouffer of North Greenbush; a brother, Joseph F. (Cindy) Connolly, M.D. of Huntington, Conn.; and a sister-in-law Patricia A. O'Connor of East Greenbush. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. The funeral will be from the Thomas S. Connolly Funeral Home, 294 Whiteview Rd., Wynantskill on Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. and at 10 a.m. in St. Jude the Apostle Church, Wynantskill where a Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated by Rev. Salvatore Rodino, Pastor and Rev. John Varno. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Wynantskill. Calling hours will be at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. Contributions to the St. Jude the Apostle Church Memorial Fund, 43 Brookside Ave., Wynantskill, NY 12198, the North Greenbush Ambulance Assn., P.O. Box 99, Wynantskill, NY 12198 and/or the Wynantskill Fire Company, P.O. Box 174, Wynantskill, NY 12198 in memory of Mr. Connolly would be appreciated.