Connolly, Ida
RENSSELAER
— Ida Connolly, 88, of East Greenbush, passed away peacefully at her home on March 18, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Albany in 1935, one of thirteen children of Joseph and Ida Danner. The family eventually moved to East Greenbush, where Ida met her beloved Gerald in 1954, and Ida lived in the East Greenbush area ever since.
She was predeceased by Gerald in 2022 and is survived by her beloved family: her children, Michael (Joanne Fabian), Gerald,
Jr. (Patricia Casey), Karen Mack (Robert) and Steven (Colette Fontaine); her nine grandchildren, Michael Jr. (Junko), Matthew (Alexandria), Mitchell (Ileana), Casey Anne (Ty), Christopher, Sean, Kierlyn Mack and Ryan Mack, Eva; and her great-grandchildren, Aurora, Margot, and Sola. She was predeceased by her brother Frank, and her twin Teresa. She is also survived by her siblings, Mary, John, Paul, Joseph, Elizabeth, Ottmar, George, Peter, Barbara, and Margaret; and many beloved in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Ida attended St. John’s High School in Rensselaer. Upon graduation in 1953, she became employed as an associate in the trust department of the National Commercial Bank and Trust Company, where she met her beloved Gerald. After their marriage in 1957, she took up employment as a full-time homemaker and mother with the birth of Michael in 1958.
Ida regarded her responsibilities to her family, church, and community as the most important things in her life. She was a constant presence in her children’s lives, always there to make sure that every school, church, athletics, and community event was attended and fully supported. Her
children were matched only by her commitment to her parents, who she and her sisters and in-laws worked hard to make comfortable through their declining years, as well as to her greatly loved siblings, nieces, and nephews.
A full partner in every sense to Gerald, Ida’s strength, common sense, and lifelong commitment to justice set the path for the family they nurtured.
Ida particularly found time to give back to her parish, volunteering at St. Mary’s Church and School for many years, including as school librarian, coaching students
program, and working at the Bazaar. Ida’s faith and daily prayers were a constant guiding light.
A huge proponent of advancement through education, Ida helped her children attractions in the early years and continuing to world travel with Gerald. Her only travel regret was the fact that their age and declining health prevented them from going on safari to Africa. Ida was the self-designated parent to accompany children on thrill rides that needed adult accompaniment, sometimes whether the child wanted to ride or not.
A legendarily protective and permissive grandmother, Ida constantly volunteered for childcare time and, with Gerald, took the grandkids on individual Disney trips through the years. Her Friday lunch gatherings were mandatory for all descendants, and always featured a spectacular spread of her children’s and grandchildren’s favorite foods. Even when in physical pain, the appearance of a grandchild or great-grandchild invariably resulted in great happiness.
Ida shared her family’s sports interests, refereeing Yankee-red Sox arguments and joining Giants fandom, including attending many tailgates and games, culminating in attending Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis with Gerald Sr., Steven, and Mike Jr.
Ida also enjoyed and was particularly proud of her world travel with Gerald. They visited (a non-exclusive list) the Pyramids, the Holy Land, Russia, all of Europe, the Great Wall, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Argentina, and Brazil. They also drove Karen across the continental United States to begin her west coast adventure.
Ida will be particularly remembered by her children and grandchildren for her strength of will and courage in the face of debilitating oll± c ʱ ä µµ± 7· always the comfort of those she loved most, and she lived that commitment every day of her life.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Friday, 9:30 a.m. from the Rockefeller Funeral Home, 165 Columbia Tpk., Rensselaer and 10 a.m. at Church of St. Mary of Clinton Heights. Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. Friends may call Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the Funeral Home.