Obituary

James B. Connolly, 89, of 17 Jackson Avenue, Warren, Pa. died Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at St. Vincent Health Care Center, Erie, after a brief illness.

He was born June 17, 1919 in Warren, to the late Michael and Anna Reinsel Connolly. He resided in Warren his entire life and was a 1937 graduate of Warren High School and a graduate of the former Hoff Business School.

James served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a staff sergeant, serving with the AsiaticPacific Theatre. He was owner and operator of the James B. Connolly Beer Distributor for over 50 years.

He was a life member of the former Warren V.F.W. and a former member of the Warren Elks Lodge, American Legion Post 135. He enjoyed playing poker with his retired school teachers poker club. He was known to be an avid hunter, outdoorsman, who enjoyed his rose and vegetable gardens.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen Gronick Connolly, whom he married in May of 1941 in Clarendon, Pa.; six children, Cynthia Rock and her husband Steven, Kathleen Teconchuk and her husband Robert, all of Erie, Suzanne Sillato and her husband Albert, of Lancaster, N.Y., Eileen Ressler and her husband Timothy, of Madison, Fla., James M. Connolly and his wife Margaret, of N. Warren, Amy Swanson and her husband, James of Warren; one sister, Julia Ziki and her husband George, of N. Warren; 22 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Geneva Strittmatter.