Mary Cyril Connelly

NATICK – Mary Cyril Connelly passed away peacefully on October 14, 2024 after leading a gorgeously vibrant life marked by her faith, her creative flair, and her deep and abiding love for her family and friends.

Born in Boston on Bastille Day, 1951, Mary grew up in Newton and Belmont, graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy and Catherine Laboure School of Nursing and led a varied and successful career as a nurse, risk management analyst, and non-profit leader. Whether in her early years with Medflight, a neurosurgical ICU nurse at Mass Eye and Ear, or as president of Jobs for Bay State Graduates, Mary brought her characteristic warmth and forward-thinking leadership wherever she worked. She was a dedicated mentor and collaborative administrator whose ability to find common sense solutions to complex challenges was matched only by her inveterate sense of fun and her ability to prioritize the humanity of all those she served and worked with.

Beyond a doubt, however, Mary’s greatest joy was her daughter Kate. Mary reveled in the adventures she and Kate shared: traipsing around Boston with Kate in a backpack or bike seat, trekking to hockey games, serving as camp nurse to the Ron Burton Training Village, or singing alongside residents of the Fernald School. Mary was overjoyed when Kate married Ken Wade and knew a love like no other in her role as grandmother to Emily and Thomas Wade. The traditions of dessert first and mystery rides continued from the Kate years to more recent ones in Natick.

In Natick, as she had in Boston, Cambridge and Belmont, Mary discovered and nurtured a community of cherished neighbors and friends. Mary delighted in her connections with others, in gatherings big and small, planned and spontaneous. She was the queen of the small, thoughtful touches, the whimsical prank, and the heartfelt thank-you. It was this desire to cultivate human connection and bring people together that informed Mary’s extraordinary ability to transform the houses she purchased into beautiful, inviting homes.

Throughout her lifetime, Mary wrestled with health and physical challenges with courage and grace, never losing her wit or the genuine solicitude for those caring for her. She showed all this and more in her final challenge. Her response to decreased mobility? Rock a new pair of Lilly Pulitzer pants patterned with blue skies and red-hulled sailboats. Even in the toughest situation, Mary believed in the goodness of humanity, turned to Jesus as a friend, and looked forward to the promises of eternal life. She drew strength from her Catholic faith and received Holy Communion the day before she passed away.

Mary is survived by her beloved daughter and son-in-law Kate and Ken Wade of Natick and adored grandchildren Emily and Thomas. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Nancy Connelly of Belmont, her brother Abbot Xavier Connelly OSB of Still River, and sister Teresa Fitts of South Hadley. She leaves four loving siblings, RADM Thomas J. Connelly and his wife Darlene of Fredericksburg, VA, Rev. Fr. Peter Connelly OSB of Still River, Joan Conway and her husband Bob of Manomet, and Bernardine Connelly Clark and her husband Mark of Warrenton, VA. Definitely the “fun aunt,” Mary leaves a lifetime of love and memories to her nieces and nephews Julianna, Marie, Annie, Mary, Sarah, Jack, Tess, Peter, and Antonia. 

Visiting hours will take place on Sunday, October 20th from 2pm-6pm at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., Natick, MA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, October 21st at 10am at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 502 Washington St., Wellesley, MA, followed by burial at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, 180 Pond St., Natick, MA, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Mass. General Hospital, Boston.