Mary Lou Lieser Connelly
April 29, 1936 - March 10, 2022
Mary Lou passed away March 10, surrounded by her children, after a 15-year battle with kidney cancer. Mary was born in Vancouver, Washington to Mary and Herbert Lieser. She graduated from Vancouver high school. She attended Willamette University in Salem for two years before transferring to the University of Washington where she graduated. At U of W she met the love of her life, Glenn Connelly. They married in 1961 and enjoyed 42 years of marriage until his passing in 2003.
Mary taught kindergarten at the Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew in San Mateo for over 30 years. After her retirement from teaching, she had too much energy so continued to substitute teach at St. Matthews. She volunteered with Ability Path and the Coyote Point Museum Auxiliary for many years, as well as with hospice until the pandemic began in 2020.
Mary was a devoted mother and wife. She swam with the Marlin Masters and was a competitive tennis player for many years. Mary was an avid reader and enjoyed being a part of several book clubs. One of her book clubs, the Trail Blazers, began reading together in 1994 and is still meeting today. She loved hosting dinners for her book clubs and her many friends. She was an accomplished cook. She couldn't pass up a good cookbook, always trying new recipes to share with her family and friends. Mary was always up for an adventure. One of her cherished adventures was traveling to Mexico with friends to attend cooking classes. Just five short years ago, Mary traveled to Italy with her daughter, Lisa, to participate in a cross-country cycling adventure - at the ripe young age of 80! She loved the spinning classes, and her dear friends she met in those classes (the Spinning Divas), that helped her prepare for her trip to Italy. She enjoyed numerous camping and fishing trips with her sons, Mike, Chris and families.
Mary leaves a legacy of courage, strength and determination which is a model for all who knew her. She had a kind and generous spirit that we will miss every day.
Mary is survived by her children, Mike, Lisa, and Chris as well as six grandchildren and her brother Herb Lieser of Vancouver, WA.
There will be a memorial service for Mary on March 26th at 11:00 at St Mathews Episcopal Church in San Mateo. In lieu of flowers please donate to The American Cancer Society.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Mar. 17 to Mar. 21, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Mary Lou Connelly

4 Entries

Chris Telleen

May 27, 2024

Thinking of seeing you running on the El Camino with the middle school students, Mary. Such an amazing teacher.

Betsy Acheson Logan

March 27, 2022

Mary Lou was my favorite aunt, and Buck (Glenn) was my favorite uncle. My family lived in Oregon during most of my life, so we were far apart geographically. Sadly, this made it difficult to spend very much time together, but there were trips, weddings and visits over the years that I remember fondly. We did live in Palo Alto for three years when I was young and I remember going to their house for dinner. Mary Lou always made the most delicious food, and was always a gracious hostess. My parents enjoyed going into San Francisco to favorite restaurants with Buck and Mary Lou during those years. Their first son, Mike, was born during this time.

Mary Lou was a happy, positive and energetic person. She worked many jobs to help put her husband through medical school when they were first married. One story I remember is that she would put her hair up in curlers on the way home from work on Friday nights if they had plans to go out or entertain friends. The traffic was stop and go, so she put that time to good use!

She loved her family, and was so proud of all of her children for the lives they had created. She also loved her beautiful home and wanted to stay in it as long as she could. I am grateful that she was able to do that. I know she loved her work teaching kindergarten as well. I really enjoyed talking to her about her experiences teaching. I find it unbelievable that she was able to teach until the age of 80 and still substituted after that. That is a clear example of the energy and passion she had for her work and for living her life to the fullest.

I will always admire Mary Lou for the way she lived her life with joy, kindness and purpose. She never stopped...She contributed in so many ways to her family, her friends and her community throughout the years. Mary Lou was an inspiration to me and a wonderful role model. I am very lucky to have had her in my life. I am so sorry that she is gone. I will miss her a great deal, as I know many others will, for years to come. She was an example for us all.

Chris Carlson and Family (Incline Village)

March 25, 2022

I grew up on Flying Mist with Mike, Lisa and Chris, and Mrs. Connelly was always the kindest mom. God Bless her. My heart is with the entire Connelly family.

Nancy Morioka-Douglas

March 22, 2022

What a life well lived! I first met Mrs. Connelly in 1993 when my older daughter started kindergarten at St. Matt's. She made sure that she, my younger daughter, and the myriads of children whom she nurtured had an excellent beginning to their many years of school. She had the reputation of being the best kindergarten teacher in the area. Not only was she an inspiration for her pupils but also for their parents. Always kind, endlessly patient, and a great sense of humor. She was our role model, too. My deepest condolences to her family.

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