John S Connolly

John S. Connolly, of Cresskill, after 93 years joined his beloved wife Betty on October 17, 2022. He leaves behind a large and loving family --
-- his eight children (and in-laws), Chris, Tom (Susan), Mary (Barney), Joe who is missed these past twelve years (Liz), Billy, Kevin (Sue), Diane (Tim) and Tracy
-- his fifteen grandchildren (and in-laws), Rory (Heather), Thomas, Alyssa (Angelo), Tim, Liz (Mike), Brianna (Seth), Brigid (Max), Sean, Zach, Tyler, Caileen, Emma, Sammy, Kristina and Chloe
-- his eight great-grandchildren, Talia, Evelyn, Leo, Kieran, Ariella, Frankie, Alaska and Luke
-- his two sisters Gretta and Anne in England
Dad was an Irish country lad from Tullyduff, County Mayo who left a beautiful but harsh land in 1949 for the streets of New York City, where he rode for 25 years as a bus driver. One magical 1950s night at a Manhattan dance club, he met the Galway girl he fell for at first sight (tho Mom took some time to be won!) and shared nearly 66 years of wedded life. (Their sense of swing continued to delight at wedding festivities in decades to come.) Dad and Mom faced the challenges of raising a brood of oft-rambunctious children at 91 Madison in Cresskill in the topsy-turvy Sixties and Seventies, and these times tested Dad's famed Connolly temper (albeit tempered with love). But our parents persevered and kept the faith, and Dad was to be rewarded with many joys over the years: "What your hands provide you will enjoy; you will be happy and prosper: Like a fruitful vine your wife within your home, Like olive plants your children around your table" (Psalm 128). Ever the worker not the talker, Dad had two post-retirement careers as custodian at Sacred Heart in Haworth and a golf club starter. From the frugal camping and beach house vacations of early days, Dad and Mom savored the shores of Cocoa Beach during their later life, and Dad kept making his tee shots through his 90th year. Memorably, at two generations of holiday feasts, Dad was the master carver and purveyor of his trademark whiskey sours. Not the least of Dad's happiness was to "live to see your children's children." It was wonderful to experience Dad's obvious joy in his relationships with the many grandchildren (and great-grands) he so loved.
Mom's departure in May 2020 left an unfillable void, but Dad kept at the outside chores, leaf-blowing while seated in his chair, until infirmity laid him low the last few months. Throughout this period, his daughter Mary was a devoted caregiver to whom we can never be thankful enough for making it possible for Dad to stay at home until the end. Dad didn't make it to the Thanksgiving dinner he was planning for his family, but all of us are united in raising a glass to give thanks for the countless blessings his good life provided.
Visitation at Barrett Leber Funeral Home, 148 Dean Dr., Tenafly on Thursday, October 20, 2022 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Mass Friday, October 21, 2022 at 10 AM at St. Therese Church, Cresskill. Interment to follow at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory can be made to the Carmelite Missions, 55 W. Demarest Avenue, Englewood NJ 07631 and to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis TN 38101-9929.