Monica was born on March 4, 1932, in Chicago, the youngest of seven sisters. She graduated from Good Counsel Academy in 1951, and met Kevin Kearns Connolly at a recreation event in Rye, N.Y. They married in 1955, and for 35 years, the focus of their marriage was on family and on the raising of their nine children.
They moved to Boise, Idaho in 1980. After Kevin passed away in 1990, Monica kept a dizzying schedule, visiting her children who were scattered across the USA.
Monica was the consummate hostess. Whether hosting a large Thanksgiving family reunion or struggling with a Coleman camp stove, she graciously fed anyone visiting the house. She passed this talent of hospitality to her daughter Colleen who, with her husband Douglas, now runs Scarlet Begonias in Brunswick, ME.
A dedicated proponent of life, Monica could be seen at the Boise State Capitol building making her pro-life views known. Monica loved babies and welcomed each of her 35 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Even at the end of her life, as she was suffering the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease, she would perk up at the sound of a baby.
As a member of the Legion of Mary, she held a strong belief in the power of prayer, and that in the end, all would be well. That belief never failed her.
She will be missed by her children and their spouses: Colette Marie (and David) Bennett of Bridgewater, CT; Margaret Joy (and Paul) Hart of Boise, ID; Colleen Frances (and Douglas) Lavallee of Bowdoin, ME; Kathleen Mary (and John) Fix of Green Bay, WI ; Michelle Marie (and David) Nordmark of Lincolnton, NC; Leo Patrick (and Monica Stoughton) Connolly of Ridgefield, WA; Terrence Joseph (and Camille Stowasser) Connolly of Ossining, NY ; Hugh Kieran (and Karen Huttemann) Connolly of Beverly Hills, MI ; and Claire Bernadette (and Rick) Borelli of Boise, ID.
She will be missed by her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren including Hugh, Stephen and Sallie Lavallee, and Kingston and Eve Lavallee (Richmond, ME).
Viewing hours and rosary service will be held Friday evening, April 7th, at Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise, Idaho and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 8th at 10 AM at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist; interment to follow at Morris Hill Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made to Treasure Valley Down’s Syndrome Association (www.idahodownsyndrome.org/), Boise Pro-Life (http://idahochooseslife.org /), or Alzheimer’s Association (http://www.alz.org).
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