CarolAnn Donnelly

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, CarolAnn T. Lynch Donnelly, 78. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on July 13th, 2026. Over the years, CarolAnn faced many medical challenges with remarkable courage. Her strength, determination, and quiet resilience inspired everyone who knew her. She ultimately succumbed to breast cancer, a battle she met with the same grace she carried throughout her life.

CarolAnn was born into a large and loving Irish Catholic family, the seventh of fourteen children welcomed by her parents, Thomas and Sally Lynch. Their home was filled with faith, tradition, and the joyful noise of many siblings. The Catholic faith was the center of their daily life, shaping the values, warmth, and devotion that CarolAnn carried with her throughout her years. She was born in New York City and raised in Freeport. Her days were filled with adventures with her siblings, the comfort of shared meals, and the steady presence of her parents’ deep spiritual grounding. In 1970, CarolAnn married the love of her life Marty, beginning a life together in Freeport, and then to East Setauket where they spent many happy years before retiring to Ridge, NY.

CarolAnn dedicated many years to public service. She was a trained nurse, graduating from the New York Foundling Hospital, who poured her energy into her community through the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. As a Troop Leader and later the Suffolk County Girl Scout Coordinator, she touched countless young lives with her guidance, enthusiasm, and steady presence.

In those years, CarolAnn loved family bike rides, camping trips, hiking adventures, and traveling together to Shawnee for Thanksgiving vacations, memories that remain cherished by all who shared them. Throughout her life, she embraced new experiences and took on many roles, from selling Tupperware as a regional director, to cooking for the Three Village School District and the Wunderbar Deli.

CarolAnn loved to cook and bake. Whether she was decorating cakes, making brownies, or preparing a large family meal, she brought joy and creativity into the kitchen, often treating recipes as suggestions rather than rules. She loved having company, filling her home with laughter, conversation, and the comfort of big family meals. CarolAnn’s greatest joy came from the time spent with her grandchildren. She loved to spoil them and share stories about all of their achievements.

She is survived by her husband Martin K. Donnelly, their children Catherine Duffy (Thomas), Martin C. Donnelly (Nicole), and James (Lisa). She was a devoted Nana to Brendan, Kaitlyn, Lucas, Lilly, Jason, and Colin, each of whom brought her immense joy.

In addition, CarolAnn also opened her heart and home to Megan Reilley, and Patrick Reilley (Julie), embracing them as family, as well as their children Caroline, Jordan, Brenna, Taryn, Claire, Paige, Emily and Megan's grandchild Blakely.

CarolAnn is also survived by nine of her siblings: Eileen Scheuring, Timothy Lynch, Hugh Lynch, Ann Von Osnabrugge, Kathleen McCarrey, Elizabeth Lynch, Theresa Reeves, James Lynch, and Jean Marlowe. She has reunited in heaven with her parents and her siblings Joan, Sally, Dorothy, and Tom.

A beloved aunt to more than one hundred nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and great great nieces and nephews, CarolAnn’s love reached across generations.