(May 24, 1902--December 25, 2000)

NORWOOD--The funeral for Francis Connelly, 98, Regan Road, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Church, with the Rev. Paul Worczak officiating. Spring burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Mr. Connelly died Monday at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, where he had been a patient.

Calling hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Buck Funeral Home.

Mr. Connelly was a teacher at the Number 9 Schoolhouse, Colton, and then worked at Alcoa, Massena, for 43 years, retiring in 1967.

Born May 24, 1902, in Colton, son of Anthony and Margaret Gorman Connelly, he graduated from the Knox Memorial teachers training class, Russell.

He married Marcella Marden on Feb. 26, 1926, in Colton Catholic Church. The couple had hosted a family reunion every year since 1976. Mrs. Connelly died March 1, 1999.

Mr. Connelly was a communicant of St. Andrew's Church and a member of the Norwood Knights of Columbus Council 2309, Cold Springs Hunting Club, the Holy Name Society, Northern New York Baseball Umpires Association and the Alcoa 25-Year Club.

He was an avid camper and hunter and was a well-known local baseball pitcher until the age of 45.

Surviving are three sons, Richard, Baldwinsville, Lawrence, Norfolk, and Robert, Syracuse; five daughters, Phyllis Hipp, Norwood, Mrs. Arthur (Theresa) Perkins, Colton, Mrs. Carl (Barbara) Robbins, Chaumont, Mrs. Thomas (Joan) Warren, Blasdell, and Mrs. Kenneth (Patricia) Potocar, Norwood, 36 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.

Three daughters, Mary Catherine Connelly, Sarah L. "Sally" LaBarge and Helen Mahoney; two brothers Bernard and Leo Connelly, and three half-brothers, Emmett, Harold, and Michael Regan died before him.

Donations may be made to the St. Lawrence County ARC or Wadhams Hall Seminary College, Ogdensburg.

(Taken from the Wednesday, December 27, 2000 edition of the Watertown Daily Times, page 27).