Catherine "Cathy" Doreen Connelly

It is with heavy hearts we share the sudden but peaceful passing of Catherine ‘Cathy’ Doreen Connelly in her 76th year on November 23, 2025 at the Guelph General Hospital surrounded by her entire family.

Cathy is predeceased by her parents Walter ‘Bud’ and Doreen Smith, and brothers Tom and Walter ‘Wally’ Smith.

Cathy is predeceased by her soulmate and best friend Robert ‘Bob’ Connelly, who passed away in 2020 as she held his hand. Bob was in her thoughts every moment of every day since his passing, and we are at peace knowing they are together again forevermore.

Cathy is survived by daughters Karen (John) Connelly, Susan (Jeff) Farrelly, and beloved grandchildren David and Ella Farrelly and Liam McCracken, sisters Susan MacCulloch and Elizabeth ‘Cissy’ Gallagher, and brother Eric Smith. Cathy was loved by many, including nieces and nephews, cousins and in-laws. Cathy was a loyal friend to many, and it was her fabric of family members and pets that was her biggest source of love, joy, strength and humour throughout her life. To her, family was everything. She particularly loved the comforts of home, and there was no place she would rather be.

Being born and raised in Guelph, after attending high school at G.C.V.I., she worked as a Switchboard Operator at Bell Telephone. She met Bob, the love of her life, and they married in 1973 at St. George’s Anglican Church in Guelph. They settled down to raise their two daughters and Cathy was happy to stay at home taking care of her family for many years. She was the ultimate caregiver.

As Cathy’s daughters grew older, she began working at the Co-operators head office in the Finance Department, located in downtown Guelph. Her career highlight was being chosen to attend a prestigious Co-operators recognition conference at Chateau Lake Louise, rewarding her for service excellence. Cathy retired shortly after reaching her 25 years of service milestone. In her retirement years, she enjoyed time with Bob, tending to her garden, knitting, reading books, playing word games, watching TV and being ‘Nana’ to her precious grandchildren. Nana was always eager to cheer on David, Ella and Liam in their various extra-curricular activities, and she couldn’t be prouder of their many accomplishments, but most importantly, who they had become as adults. She loved them dearly.

Until her final hours, Cathy continued to be the loving and steadfast mom to Karen and Susan, always with her impeccable ability to see humour in all situations, and she gave her girls solace and rest in her comforting embrace right until the end.

Someday, we will be together again, and we know you are always with us in spirit. Until then, we will embrace you in our hearts and love you forever and always. Your legacy endures. Thank you for everything.

We would like to thank the many health care professionals that cared for Cathy over the years: Dr. Douglas Choong, Dr. Ian Phillips, Dr. Matthew Kilmurry, Dr. Jacek Misterski, Dr. Vasanti Shende, and Dr. Matthew Brace. We are grateful for the wonderful care she received most recently at Guelph General Hospital during her last stay, where the ICU team enabled us all to say our final goodbyes.

As per Cathy and Bob’s wishes, no formal funeral service will be held. Cathy will be reunited with Bob once again through a private family interment at Marymount Cemetery in Ariss. The family asks that donations wishing to be made in memoriam be directed to the Guelph Humane Society or the Foundation of the Guelph General Hospital.