Joan C. Connolley

Joan C. Connolley Surrounded by her loving family, Joan C. Connolley, 91, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2025. She was reunited in eternal life with the love of her life, Edward J. Connolley, with whom she shared 58 years of marriage, devotion, and joy. Born in Shenandoah, PA, Joan was the beloved daughter of Zigmund Christie and Mary (Ulicny). A lifelong learner and dedicated educator, she graduated from Bloomsburg University in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. During her college years, she was class salutatorian, held numerous class offices, and was honored as May Queen, Coed of the Year, and a campus leader admired by both peers and professors. Joan began her teaching career on Midway Island in the North Pacific, where she helped establish a school to educate the children on the base while her husband, Ed, served there as a Naval Officer. She later earned her Master’s degree in Education from Kutztown University, further deepening her commitment to the profession she loved. In 1966, Joan and Ed settled in Allentown, where she taught at St. Catherine of Siena School. That same year, Joan and Ed became founding members of St. Thomas More Parish, playing an instrumental role in its growth and vitality. For 16 years, she taught language arts and religion before being named the school’s first lay principal — a role she held with distinction, vision, and compassion until her retirement in 2000. Even in retirement, Joan remained a devoted servant to Catholic education, faithfully volunteering as a Eucharistic Minister. Joan’s love for the written and spoken word was a defining thread in her life. A gifted writer and eloquent speaker, she inspired others with her wisdom, kindness, and steadfast belief in the power of learning. She cherished family traditions — especially holiday celebrations — and found her greatest joy in time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters: Kathleen Lindblom of Nokomis, FL; Mary Ellen Kinek and her husband, James, of Macungie; and Maureen Wendling and her husband, Todd, of Allentown. She also leaves behind six grandchildren — Michael, David, Dana, Stephanie, Andrew, and Daniel — and four great-grandchildren: John, Gwenyth, Camden, and Mila. Joan was preceded in death by her sister, Rosemary, and her brother, Bernard. SERVICES: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas More Parish, 1040 Flexer Ave Allentown, on Wednesday, August 20th at 10:30 A.M. Visitation will begin at 9:30 A.M. in the Church. A Private interment will follow the Mass. Arrangements by the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown. Condolences may be offered at: www.jsburkholder.com CONTRIBUTIONS: In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joan’s memory may be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley & Northeast Pennsylvania or the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters.