Eleanor Connolly

Eleanor C. Connolly died Sunday, January 29, 2017, at St. Peter's Nursing and Rehab Center in Albany, with her family at her side. She was 92. Eleanor was born on April 8, 1924, in upper Manhattan, daughter of the late Hugh and Elizabeth (McKenna) Flynn, both of County Longford, Ireland. After graduating from high school and working in Manhattan for 10 years as a secretary, she married John F. Connolly in 1950. She and John moved to Troy, and later, in 1955, to Schodack, where they raised their nine children and were long-time communicants of St. Mary's Church in Nassau. After she was widowed in 2002, Eleanor moved to the Beverwyck in Slingerlands, where she took great joy in the many new friends she made. She was greatly helped there in recent years by her aides, Melanie and Dorothy. Eleanor is predeceased by her husband John, sister Rose, and son Mark. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Kathleen Anello of Slingerlands, and her eight loving children: Michael (Paula Gatta Connolly) of Newport News, VA; John (Suzanne) of Scotia; David (Audrey) of Fairport, NY; Mary (Tony Watson) of Delmar; Barbara (George Leamy) of Delmar; James (Dr. Joanne Van Woert) of Voorheesville; Paul (Dr. Judy Van Woert) of Delmar; and Joan (Sharon Ahl) of Albany. She is also survived by her 16 adoring grandchildren. A faith-filled Catholic and a great believer in the importance of family, Eleanor was a wonderful mother and mother-in-law, and a devoted grandmother. We will all miss her love, constant good cheer, great conversation, and sound advice. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Friday, 10:00am at St. Mary's Church, 26 Church St. in Nassau. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Thomas P. Mooney Funeral Home, 11 Elm St., Nassau on Thursday from 5-7pm. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Castleton. Her family wishes to thank the nurses, aides and other staff on the third floor of the St. Peter's Nursing and Rehab Center, who took very good care of her medical needs, and the Chaplain and Sisters Pat and Mary, who gave her great spiritual consolation. In lieu of flowers donations in Eleanor's memory may be made to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21297-0303 or WWW.crs.org. Online condolences may be offered at Mooneyfuneralhome.com