Mary Jane Connelly, 99, died at Resthave Care & Rehabilitation in Morrison, IL, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Mary Jane was born April 30, 1925, the daughter of Murray and Jennie (Hook) Ritchie. She attended the Morrison schools, where she excelled in academics, was a High School Cheerleader, Homecoming Queen, and a Band Majorette. After graduating from high school in 1943, she attended and graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL, with majors in Psychology and Social Work. As a new graduate, her first job was in Detroit, MI, as a District Director for Girl Scouts of the USA, a position she held for five years. While there, she heard Princess Elizabeth speak before she became Queen. She also worked a year at a Hotpoint Company by Chicago, IL, before returning to Morrison to work at G.E., as Editor of their newspaper. She met and married a G.E. foreman, Arthur Connelly. They were married for 45 years, until he preceded her in death in 2000. Together they raised two sons, Al (Carla) Connelly of Sterling, IL, and Ed Connelly of Morrison.
Mary Jane took Education classes at Shimer College and also Correspondence classes, in order to receive her Teaching certificate. She taught PE, fifth grade and fourth grade, and Reading Recovery classes at Northside School in Morrison for 20 years. She loved sports. She was a good Tennis player in high school and she enjoyed playing Golf for many years at the Morrison Country Club, where she received a hole-in-one. Mary Jane attended many of her sons’ and her grandson’s sporting events and was voted “Top Fan” for her sons’ Baseball league. Her father developed her life-long love for the Chicago Cubs by taking her to Cubs games as a young child. She also attended games at Wrigley Field and preseason games in Arizona as an adult. She carried her Cubs Fan membership card in her wallet since 1935. Mary Jane was also a University of Illinois sports fan and faithfully followed their Basketball and Football teams.
She was a longtime member of Ebenezer Reformed Church, where she was instrumental in starting a Nursery for her church family. She was active in leading Bible study and prayer meetings; sang in the choir; was the Editor of the church’s newsletter for 20 years. Mary Jane also participated in many other activities of the church. She traveled with her husband and boys on summer trips. She planned her class of 1943 reunions for many, many years and volunteered as a second grade Reading Tutor at Northside. She liked playing bridge, dominoes, and cards with her friends, and also attending her weekly cousin get-togethers. She made delicious meals for her family members and enjoyed her time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and pet dogs.
Survivors include her two sons; two grandchildren, Jill (DJ) Tipp and Aaron (Harley Collins) Connelly; four great-grandchildren, Garrett, Elijah, and Nora Tipp, and CJ Connelly; nephews and a niece.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; parents; sister, Liz Vegter-Kiner; half-brothers, George Ritchie and Bob Ritchie, a WWII pilot who lost his life, while on a flight mission over enemy territory.
A Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison, IL, and will continue until the start of her Funeral service at 11:00 a.m.
Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison, IL.
The Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial gifts may be made to Ebenezer Reformed Church or to Happy Tails Humane Society in Rock Falls, IL.