James "Jim" Connelly, 78, of New Bedford passed away on Tuesday December 11, 2012 at home peacefully in his sleep. He was the husband of Anna R. (Rosa) Connelly.
A lifelong resident of New Bedford, Jim grew up on Washington Street in the South End, attending St. Mary's Elementary School and Holy Family High School.
Shortly after graduation in 1952, he began working at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company where he was a proud member of the United Rubber Workers Union. He spent his entire working life at Goodyear, retiring in 1989 when the New Bedford plant closed.
Known affectionately by family members and friends as "Pokey," he spent his retirement years helping his wife Anna care for their seven grandchildren and being a surrogate grandfather to a number of his grandkids' friends.
Jim Connelly was a talented doodler, an avid reader and history buff, a fervent Democrat, and a longtime Celtics fan.
He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Elizabeth Connelly-Sylvia and her husband Bruce, Christina Connelly and her husband Sean Moriarty, and Kathryn Politano and her husband David, all of New Bedford; seven grandchildren, Althea, Maya, Cameron, Liam, Eva, James Maxwell, and Nora; and nieces and nephews.
He was the son of the late Thomas and Regina (Bourgeois) Connelly and brother of the late Janet Connelly, Claire McAskill, and Thomas Connelly.
His Funeral Mass will celebrated on Saturday at 10 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Neediest Families Fund, c/o Standard-Times, 23 Elm St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.