Richard L. Connolley

Richard  L.  Connolley

Richard L. Connolley, age 76, 40 Knights Drive, Bloomsburg (Sherwood Village), died at 2:40 p. m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 at the Geisinger-Bloomsburg Health Care Center, where he was a patient for two days. He was seriously ill for the past five weeks.

Born in Danville on Aug. 22, 1936, he was a son of the late James P. and Margaret (Gerringer) Connolley. He resided in Bloomsburg since 1970.

Richard was a 1954 graduate of Danville High School and a 1958 graduate of the former Bloomsburg State College.

He began his teaching career in Guilford, New York, returning to Pennsylvania to teach at Warrior Run High School in 1960  and later at Danville High School. In 1969 he joined the family business, Connolley Sales, Inc.,Danville,  a wholesale food business, retiring in 2000. Following his retirement, he returned to his love of teaching and became affiliated with Keystone National High School, an online school, as an evaluator, retiring in 2009.

Richard was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church, Bloomsburg, where he had served as an Eucharistic Minister.  

Richard will be remembered for his many wonderful qualities which included his love of his family and friends and especially his dog Casey.

Surviving are his wife, the former Carole A. Ruckle, with whom he celebrated his 52nd wedding anniversary on August 6, 2012;  a son, Christopher J. Connolley, and his wife Judith, West Chester; a daughter, Cathryn A., wife of Frederick W. Kluck, Bloomsburg; three siblings: James Connolley, and his wife Judy, Danville; Alice Mazich, Latrobe; Edward Connolley, and his wife Joan, Allentown; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a. m. Wednesday in St. Columba Catholic Church, 342 Iron St., Bloomsburg, by his pastor, Monsignor Robert E. Lawrence. Interment will be in New Rosemont Cemetery, Espy.
There will be no viewing. The family will greet friends at the Church on Wednesday from 10-11 a. m.

The family will provide flowers. Friends are asked to remember Richard with a contribution to St. Columba Catholic Church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.