Dana M. Connolly

Dana brought such joy to everyone she encountered during her 35 years of life. She loved spending time with family, friends, and neighbors, and delighted in being read to, talking on the phone, and having her nails painted. She absolutely loved listening to music, from the Grateful Dead to Carole King and James Taylor. She especially loved being sung to by her family, no matter how off-key. She also loved a good joke or a silly mistake and had the most infectious laugh.

She attended Carman Road School in Massapequa for many years, and spent the last years of her life living happily amongst friends at CP Bayville. She was adored by staff and caretakers alike.

Dana is survived by her devoted parents, Anne and Tom of Hicksville, NY; younger sister Laura of New York, New York; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Dana lived a joyful life and it is no coincidence that her favorite song was Beautiful by Carole King, as the lyrics sung are “you've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart,” and that’s what Dana did; she woke up with a smile on her face everyday.

Visitation in celebration of Dana’s life is on Wednesday, August 23th and Thursday, August 24th from 4 - 8:00pm at Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes, 125 W. Old Country Road in Hicksville, NY. Burial will take place on Friday, August 25th at Locust Valley Cemetery, 117 Ryefield Road in Locust Valley, NY.

In lieu of traditional remembrances, please consider donating in Dana’s name to Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County.