Lynn Connelly

Lynn Connelly, age 64 of Wayne, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018.  She had lived in Wayne since 1991.

Lynn grew up in Hawthorne and graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1972, where she built many life-long friendships.   Lynn earned her Bachelor’s Degree from William Paterson College.  She began teaching special needs students at Passaic County Vocational-Technical High School in 1977 and remained there until 1984.

She returned to teaching in 1994, this time in Pequannock.  She loved her job, the students, and the many other teachers with whom she became good friends.  Lynn was a special person, and truly interested in getting to know everyone, always bringing her kindness, loving spirit, and sense of humor along with her.  She was blessed to have built so many great friendships throughout her life.

Lynn’s family was her world.  She met her beloved husband, Joe, while they were teachers at Passaic County Tech.  They were married on August 18, 1984, at St. Theresa’s in Paterson, and honeymooned in Aruba. Soon after, Lynn and Joe built a family of their own, having two sons, Brendan and Kevin.

Lynn devoted herself to her family, and especially raising the two boys.  They recall how she never missed a game or practice during their childhood, and she was always there for them. She was a wonderful host of many parties and holiday gatherings, where many memories were made.

She was a big Army football fan and her family had season tickets for decades.  Going to West Point for games was a tradition that she loved dearly, and if she wasn’t at West Point to see the game, you could find her at home watching on TV.  Lynn, Joe, and her sons would always spend weekends at West Point in the fall.  Summer vacations were also very memorable, often vacationing in Holden Beach, North Carolina with great friends. Her sons recalled this week the only time of the year that she could lay on the beach, get a sun tan, read a book, and relax.

Lynn had a wonderful sense of humor and fancied herself a comedian of sorts.  She loved to make people laugh and could see the funny side of just about any situation.  She always made the best of life, and as quoted in her high school yearbook "Laughter makes all things tolerable."  Lynn lived by this motto.

Lynn is survived by her two sons; Brendan and Kevin, both of Wayne, three brothers; Rev. Edward Reading of Ortley Beach, NJ, Patrick Reading of Paterson, NJ, and Thomas Reading of Forked River, NJ, as well as her nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.  She was predeceased by her husband Joe in 2009.