John William Connelly Jr.

John William Connelly, Jr., age 76, of Bear, DE, passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025.
Born in Philadelphia, PA on May 31, 1949, he was a son of the late John William and Gertrude Veronica (Dooley) Connelly, Sr. John graduated from Christiana High School in 1968. He dedicated his life to his trade; John was a pipe fitter/welder for Local 80 and retired in 2005.
John was a dedicated 60-year life member of the fire service with Christiana Fire Company and Aetna Hose, Hook, and Ladder. He joined Christiana Fire Co. in 1965, serving as a 1 assistant chief (1974, 1982, 1996), captain, assistant engineer, and was a member of the board of directors for Station 6. John also served 25 years as a life member of Aetna, Hose, Hook and Ladder. He also was a Mason at Lodge # 38. John was an avid pipe smoker and he could always be found with a pipe in his hand.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his sister, Theresa Stoops. He is survived by his children, Susan Dean, Denise DuBois (Matt) and Michael Connelly; siblings, Bonnie Castelli, Trudy Sizemore, B.J. Cleaver (Parke), Alice Connelly, Tom Connelly (Joyce) and Ed Connelly (Susan); grandchildren, Dylan Dean, Austin Dean, Ryder DuBois, Rohan DuBois, Kyle DuBois, Kylie Connelly and Myah Connelly; great-grandsons, Dominic Dean and Cole DuBois; along with a host of nieces and nephews.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 pm until 7 pm on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes, 1000 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's memory to Aetna Hose, Hook, and Ladder Co., P.O. Box 148, Newark, DE 19715-0148 or online by clicking here.