Barbara E. Connolly

Barbara E. (Sawyer) Connolly, 88, of North Smithfield, died Saturday, October 15, 2016 in Rhode Island Hospital, Providence. She was the wife of the late Edward T. Connolly, whom she married May 15, 1952. Born in Holden, MA, she was the daughter of the late Walter H. Sawyer, Sr. and Elin I. Lindstedt Sawyer.

Barbara graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1945 and attained her associate degree in Business Administration from Bryant University in 1984. She began her career with New England Telephone Company as a telephone operator and was later promoted to central office instructor. She later worked for R.I. Hospital Trust Bank as an administrative assistant. She was a secretary at Citizens Memorial School.

Barbara served on the board of the Woonsocket YWCA as treasurer for several years. She was a long time member of the Business and Professional Womens Club of Woonsocket and of the RI chapter, serving as chairman of a number of committees, teaching classes on public speaking, as president of the local chapter and treasurer of the RI chapter for several terms. She was a member of the, the Garden Club of North Smithfield where she was corresponding secretary for several years. Early in her career, she was a member of Telephone Pioneers.

With her husband of 57 years, she enjoyed ballroom dancing and they both volunteered at Krylos Dance Studio. They enjoyed travelling throughout the New England states and vacationing in Florida. Barbara loved gardening and spending time with her grandchildren.

She leaves her sons, Michael E. Connolly, with whom she resided in North Smithfield, and Wayne T. Connolly and his wife Suzanne of Burrillville; her daughter, Karen E. Connolly and her husband Robert E. Smith of Franklin, TN; three brothers, Thomas Sawyer (Jan) of Saratoga Springs, NY, Walter Sawyer, Jr. of No. Smithfield, and Robert Sawyer (Donna) of West Greenwich; her sister, Marilyn Follett of No. Smithfield; and two grandsons, Thomas W. (Heather) and Scott M. (Regina) Connolly. She was predeceased by her sister, Gertrude DelErario.

Her funeral will be held Friday, October 21, 2016 at 9 AM from the Holt Funeral Home, 510 So. Main St., Woonsocket, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, 1409 Park Ave., Woonsocket. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, No. Smithfield. Calling hours are Thursday from 4-7 PM in the funeral home.

Gifts in her memory may be made to the Holy Name Provincialate, 129 West 31st St., 2nd Floor, NY, NY 10001-3403. Please note that she was a parishioner at St. Marys in Providence when the Franciscans were there.

Visitation
Thu, Oct 20, 2016 at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pmHolt Funeral Home

510 S Main St
Woonsocket, RI 02895

Holt Funeral Home

Interment following funeral se
Fri, Oct 21, 2016 at 12:00 am

Union Cemetery

Mass of Christian Burial
Fri, Oct 21, 2016 at 10:00 amHoly Trinity Parish

1409 Park Avenue
Woonsocket, RI 02895

Holy Trinity Parish

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