Beatrice A. (Kilbride) Connolly, 87, of Franklin died September 3 in Milford Regional Medical Center. She was the wife of the late Edward R. Connolly who died in 1977.
Born in Dorchester, June 25, 1925, the daughter of the late Ernest and Mary (McIsaac) Kilbride, Mrs. Connolly was raised in Somerville and had lived in Franklin for the past 52 years.
Following the death of her husband, the late owner of Reliable Cleaners in Franklin, in 1977, Mrs. Connolly went to Holliston Junior College where she received her Associates Degree.
She then went on to work at Wrentham State School for many years as managing personnel officer of the facility.
Mrs. Connolly was an active member of the Franklin Seniors Center and had been a driving force behind the building of the senior housing on Panther Way in Franklin.
She was also a member of the Franklin Widows and Friends.
She is survived by her children, Deborah A. Osborne and her husband Allan of Millis, Edward R. Connolly, Jr. and his wife Alice of Norton, Marybeth Goyette of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, John P. Connolly and his wife Marion of North Attleboro, and Robert F. Connolly and his wife Cynthia of Bellingham.
She is also survived by her sister Rosemary Cady of Groton.
She was the sister of the late Marie Houle, Margaret Cunningham and Ronald Kilbride.
She is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Her funeral will be held on Friday September 7 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin 131 Main St. in Franklin at 9:15 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church at 10:00.
Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Calling hours will be on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284.