Eileen Margaret (Lavin) Connolly of Salem, NH, and a former lifelong resident of Andover and North Andover, passed away on April 19, 2016 at Holy Family Hospital. She was 98 years old.
Born in North Andover, she was the daughter of the late John and Catherine (Lally) Lavin. She was member of the Johnson High School class of 1935 and a graduate of the Burroughs Business School in Boston. In 1941 she married George A. Connolly of Andover. Eileen was associated with the Arlington Trust Company for over 50 years, most notably as Asst. Manager at the Shawsheen Plaza branch. Following retirement, she was elected to the Andover Housing Authority where she served as Treasurer. Eileen was an active parishioner of St. Augustine's Church where she volunteered her time. She was also a member of the Shawsheen Village Women's Club and the Andover Senior Center. She loved the Red Sox and her trips to Ireland where she spent time with relatives. For 30 plus years she enjoyed wintering at her home in Fort Lauderdale. A highlight of her summers was being together with all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at Moody Beach, Maine.
Eileen will be remembered for her generous and positive spirit, taking great joy in social occasions, especially with her family. She showed kindness and compassion for all and her deep and abiding faith will continue to be an inspiration to her family. Predeceased by her husband, Eileen is survived by daughters Joyce of Salem, NH, Kathy and husband Michael Turmel of Andover, Patricia Gorski and husband Mark of Salem, NH and Delray Beach, FL and son Michael and his wife Sharon (Lyons) of Woodstock, NY. She was the beloved "Nana" to 8 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by siblings Augustus, Raymond, Clement, James and Catherine.
Her wake was held at the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home on Friday with a Funeral Mass at St. Augustine's the following day. Interment was in Spring Grove Cemetery. Donations in Eileen's memory may be made to the St. Augustine Building Fund, 43 Essex Street, Andover, MA 01810 or the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.