Marie Elizabeth (Kennedy)Donnelli, 91, of East Hartford died in her sleep Wednesday evening at home. She was born Jan. 9, 1930, the daughter of Ralph Kennedy and Julia (Barile) Kennedy, and grew up in East Hartford and Manchester. In February 1949 she married Robert J. Donnelli, with whom she shared her life for the next fifty years until his death in 1999.
She leaves three children, Denise (Ron) Robillard, Donna Donnelli, and Robert M. Donnelli; five grandchildren, Timothy (Erin) Roberts, Laura (Doug) Harbec, Danielle (Beau) Weed, Ryan Draeger, and Aaron Donnelli; and four great-grandchildren, Kelsey Roberts, Christopher Palamar, Joseph Roberts and David Palamar. She also leaves a brother Ralph (Lillian) Kennedy of North Carolina; a sister Cheryl Kennedy-Gagne of East Hartford, and several nieces and nephews, including Susan Kennedy of Vernon, Robert (Tammy) Kennedy of Vernon, Troy (Lisa) Davidson of East Hartford, and Ralph (Jackie) Kennedy, and Nadine (Charles) Bradsher, both of North Carolina. See also leaves several cousins. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a brother, Robert Kennedy, and her sister-in-law and best friend Patricia Kennedy. She also was predeceased by a niece, Joy Mason. Her children sometimes joked that friends didn't visit their house because they were afraid of their mother. But those who knew Marie understood that underneath her taciturn exterior she was a loving, gentle and forgiving soul whose life revolved around her family. Her quiet, reserved personality complemented Bob's affable, outgoing nature, and they shared the same goal: to give their children a better life. They shared life's bounty generously with children and grandchildren, and Marie was particularly proud of the accomplishments of all the children.
Marie worked as a bookkeeper for insurance companies, retiring from Lincoln Financial to care for Bob during the years of his final illness. She returned to work part-time after Bob's death and was employed by Novak Law Office in Manchester until she was 90. Work for her in later years was less about money and more about the chance to dress up, showing off the clothes, shoes and accessory purchases from her latest shopping safari, and keeping her mind active and nimble until the end.
As the passing decades continued to deprive her of lifelong friends, she was able to remain positive and always live in the present because of her deep faith. She was unafraid of death because she understood that death relieves us of the suffering and cares of this world, reuniting us in a far better place with those we have loved.
Calling hours will be at Newkirk and Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave., from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 15 Maplewood Ave., East Hartford. Burial will immediately follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, East Hartford.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18