Karen M. Ernst-Connolly

Born in Boston on June 23rd 1954, she was the daughter of Donald Ernst and Catherine (Clancy) Ernst. She moved with her family to Scituate in 1965, Karen was a 1972 Graduate of Notre Dame Academy (Hingham, MA) and graduated from the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University in 1976,

In her early career years, she worked for the New England School of Law, The Kennedy Library and the State of Massachusetts Commerce Department. Her last position was with Fidelity Investments where she rose to Vice President/Senior Managing Director for Fidelity Capital. It was at Fidelity where she was an early board member to the Adopt a Student Foundation at Cathedral High School in Boston.

She retired from Fidelity in 1999 to devote herself to raising her son, Christopher, the love of her life and following her passion, became an active volunteer in various areas of the town. Some of her activities included PTO President at Jenkins School, Community Preservation Commission, Finance Committee, St. Mary of the Nativity, various charitable fundraising efforts, override ballot questions and The Scituate Garden Club. Most recently, she served two terms on the Scituate Select board. She also served at PTO head at Derby Academy.

She leaves behind her Husband Kevin and her son Christopher James Connolly of Boston.

She was the sister of Donald Ernst Jr. of Scituate and Vincent Ernst (Colleen Marks) of Maryland

Also survived by her in-laws James and Marybeth Connolly of Natick and Richard and Nancy Quinn, She also leaves behind her nieces Bridget Cobb (Andrew), Megan Quinn and Christine Connolly and her nephew Matthew Connolly.

A visitation will be held from 3:00-7:00 PM on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, 382 First Parish Road, Scituate, Massachusetts. Funeral Mass will take place at 10 AM on Monday, September 8, 2025, at St. Mary of the Nativity Church, 1 Kent Street, Scituate Harbor. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Karen’s memory can be made to the Scituate Food Pantry.