Obituary of Francis T. Connolly

FATHER FRANCIS CONNOLLY Father Frank Connolly died at Pennybyrn at Maryfield, High Point, NC, on January 2nd with loving friends in attendance. He was the son of Francis and Evelyn Jordan Connolly and was born in Plainfield, New Jersey on January 22, 1927. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Thereafter he attended Rutgers University and was graduated in Forestry from Duke University. After a short career in the furniture industry in North Carolina, he entered Christ the King Seminary. Later he transferred to the North American College in Rome and was ordained December 20, 1959. Father Connolly was a pastor at ten parishes, was the vicar of Greensboro and Boone Vicariates. Also he had diocesan leadership positions for several years as a diocesan consultor, director of the Diocesan Support Appeal, as was on the board of Catholic Social Services, assistant director of the Cursillo Movement and was coordinator for the 1974-75 Holy Year. In addition he held statewide positions as president of the Yokefellow Prison Ministries, and was a member of the Pastoral Ministry Task Force on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Department of Corrections Advisory Commission on Pastoral Ministry. He shepherd parishes in North Wilkesboro, Durham, High Point, Lenoir, Asheboro, Washington, NC, Laurinburg, Concord, Boone, Franklin and Greensboro. While in Durham he was the campus minister at Duke University. In most of these locations he was a member of the ministerial associations and was involved in ecumenical activities. While serving in Boone he was one of the founders of the Coalition of Churches and the Hospitality House. He retired to Boone in 2000. Fr. Frank is survived by two cousins Monsignor William Toohy of New York City, and Mary Hyson and husband Frank of Greenwich, CT. During his illness he was in Hospice Care and also attended by loving friends in Boone and Greensboro, in particular Patty Irish. A memorial Mass will be Friday January 11th at 11:00 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church with Bishop Peter J. Jugis officiating. There will be a Wake --- a time for visitation and sharing of memories at 7:00 PM Thursday January 10th at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. Memorials can be made to the Rev. Francis Connolly Endowment for St. Elizabeth, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203; Hospitality House, P.O. Box 309, Boone, NC; Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Dr., High Point, NC 27262. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Connolly family.