Mary A. Connolly

Groton- Mary (Motowidlak) Connolly, 101, was born on August 6, 1915 at her family home in Glastonbury, CT.  She passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at her home.

She married John Gerard Connolly on November 25, 1937, St. Augustine Church in Glastonbury.  Mary and John had a baby girl, Salle, During the mid 1940's, Mary and John adopted William Motowidlak (age 2) changing his last name to Connolly.

Mary along with her husband John, and children Salle and William, moved to Groton in September of 1949.  Mary and John were lifetime members of Shennecossett Yacht Club.  John was Commodore there for several years.  He passed away in late 1968.

She was a medical assistant to area physicians until her late 80's; was a member of the Business and Professional Women's Association, Groton Medical Women's Association and was also active in local politics.  She was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Groton, and for many years was in charge of decorating the altar and was a part of the Church Fair Group.  Mary lived independently in the same house located on Hynes Ave. until November 2014. 

She was a Red Cross Blood Mobile Coordinator for the greater Groton area, played golf until her early 90's, and also loved sailing and was an accomplished seamstress. She was also a hairdresser who obtained a hairdressing license in 1936.  Mary truly was a woman of many talents.

Mary is survived by her son in law Bob Evelyn, of FL; grandchildren Maura Bonner (Charles), of Groton, Patricia Glass, of Kingsland, GA, Michael Connolly (Kathy), of Pittsburg, PA; niece Kathy Hangan (John) of Burlington, CT, nephew John Campbell (Carol), of Southington.  She was predeceased by a grandson Peter Connolly and had four brothers and one sister and was the only surviving sibling.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 21, 2017 at 1 p.m.at Sacred Heart Church, 56 Sacred Heart Drive, Groton.  Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery in New London. There are no calling hours.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Sacred Heart Church in Groton.