Joan Connolly

CONNOLLY, JOAN MARILYN, 85

Joan Marilyn Connolly, of Ocala, Florida, age 85 years, passed peacefully on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at The Legacy House Hospice in Ocala, with her son Tim by her side. She is survived by her husband and life-mate of 66 years, Michael “Mike” J. Connolly. Joan was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 18, 1931, daughter of George and Amelia. She graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Queens, New York and in 1950 married her high school sweetheart Mike, whom she met while out at the local roller skating rink with her friends five years earlier. 

Joan loved travelling with Mike and particularly treasured the time they spent in Scotland, Holland, Mexico, Canada, and Italy. Friends and family were Joan’s love and joy. She relished buying the perfect “gadget” for them, usually from her favorite shopping network, QVC. She was an avid reader, and closely followed local and international news; as a cook, she was especially famous for her delicious chocolate cake and “New York deli style” rice pudding. Joan was an active member of many On Top of the World organizations including Women of the World; Southern Women’s Club; Travel Toppers; Theater Group; and Sewing Club, and over the years held leadership positions in many of them. She often accompanied Mike to Marion County Fire Rescue social events over the many years he served as a volunteer fire-fighter with Engine 21 at Friendship and District Chief of volunteers. She especially enjoyed playing (and winning!) or working at the weekly Wednesday night B-I-N-G-O gatherings.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents and only sibling, Elizabeth Anderson. In addition to her husband, Mike, Joan is survived by her son, Timothy George Connolly of Madison, Wisconsin, and daughters Colleen C. Locker (Stuart) of Houston, Texas and Maureen C. Olson (Peter) of Sheridan, Wyoming.  Joan has four grandchildren, Kelly, Kristin, Kelsey (Rey), and Peter, and an expected great-grandchild due in April 2016.