Katherine Connolly Obituary (1930 - 2015)

Portland- Katherine L. Connolly, 84, of Portland died peacefully on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Gosnell Hospice House with her loving family by her side. Katherine was born in Westbrook, Maine on December 1, 1930 the daughter of the late Everett and Etta Mae Johnson Smith. On June 20, 1951, Katherine married Francis G. Connolly at St. Marys Catholic Church in Westbrook. Together they made their home and raised their family in Portland. When not busy raising their ten children, Katherine and Francis loved to dance to the music of the Big Bands. They would travel to all the dances and won several competitions. She was responsible for not only making Easter dresses for all of her daughters, but she also made several wedding dresses. She was an avid knitter making hats, mittens, afghans and Irish sweaters. Katherine was an excellent cook, enjoyed camping with the family at Lakeside Pines in Bridgton, reupholstering furniture and was never afraid to take on a project. Every other Tuesday was spent with the Club Ladies for coffee and dessert and she enjoyed traveling to Ireland on many vacations. Katherine was a longtime communicant of St. Patricks Church and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. She was predeceased by her husband Francis G. Connolly on January 25, 1995; a son Richard M. Connolly; 3 sisters Dorothy Smith, Patricia Warren and Wilma Springer; 3 brothers Everett Smith Jr., Robert Smith and James Smith. She is survived by 8 daughters Mary K. and Jeff Reutlinger of Windham, Theresa M. and John Carter of Portland, Rita C. and Jeffrey Bayer of Windham, Patricia C. and Kent Jarrell of Maryland, Sara E. and Fred Bragdon Jr. of Wiscasset, Ruth E. and James Earley of Westbrook, Rosemary C. and Charles Huntington of Newcastle and Margaret A. Connolly-Watson and Royal Watson of Windham; one son James F. Connolly of Portland; a sister Barbara Bruns of Lewiston; 2 brothers Richard Smith of Florida and Paul and Sharon Smith of Cornish; fifteen grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway on Thursday, April 30, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00pm. Prayers will be recited at 12:15pm on Friday, May 1, 2015 at the funeral home followed by a 1:00pm Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Congress Street, Portland. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.ctcrawford.com Those who wish may make contributions in Katherines memory to: Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Route 1 STE 1, Scarborough, ME 04074