Dorothy J. "Dottie" Connelly

Dorothy J. “Dottie” Connelly, age 99, passed away on January 29, 2025 at Vista Springs Quail Highlands in Concord Twp., OH. She was born on September 21, 1925 in Westfield, IL. Dottie grew up in Westfield, Illinois and then moved to Indiana to pursue a higher education at Indiana University. Upon leaving Indiana University, she worked for the Eli Lilly Drug Company as an Analytical Chemist for 10 years. She met and then married Tom on June 26, 1954 and lived in Indiana until moving to Mentor, Ohio in 1960. After raising her 6 children, she went back to work as a sales associate for the May Company until retiring in 1980 when she became a grandmother. Her greatest joy was her family and friends. She loved to play bridge, scrabble, read, put together jigsaw puzzles, and complete the New York Times crossword puzzle every day. She volunteered her time with the St. Mary of the Assumption Women’s Guild, St. Mary’s Bingo, Lake Catholic High School Bingo, Christ Child Society, The Clothing Cottage, and The Ohio Living Breckenridge Village. Dottie lived a life of faith in God, love, friendship and service to others. She had a smile that lit up every room she was in and brought joy to everyone who knew her. She was eternally grateful to the staff at Vista Spring Quail Highlands and her three “girls” at Breckenridge who cared for her with tenderness and love. She is survived by her children, Tom (Karen) Connelly III of Mentor, Joan Nelson and Jean Schonauer, both of Perry, Mark (Caroline) Connelly of Concord, Tim Connelly of Mentor, and Kelly (Jeff) Brancel of Painesville Township; grandchildren, Tommy (Jessica) Connelly IV, Sean (Marissa) Connelly, Brian (Alyson) Connelly, Erin (Phil) Bernadotte, Dany (Casey) Schonauer, Greg (Brandi) Schonauer, Megan (Dan) Greene, Matt (Kristen) Connelly, Mackenzie and Michaela Connelly, and great-grandchildren, Claire, Tommy V, Caison, Rex, Ryker, Camden, Willie, Max, Lexie, Wrenly, Easton, Asher, Bentley, Owen, Nora, Emmy, Millie, Violet, Ivy and Rosie; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Thomas J. “Tom” Connelly Jr; and her parents, George A. and Golden I. Polk and 3 sisters and 1 brother. A funeral mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, February 7, 2025 at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 8560 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. Please meet at the church. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. A private urn burial will be at a later date in All Souls Cemetery, Chardon, OH. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Mary of the Assumption School, 8540 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, Ohio 44060 or to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; online at www.stjude.org/ Send flowers and offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

Dorothy J. "Dottie" Connelly

September 21, 1925 - January 29, 2025