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Timothy (Ted) Joseph Connolly

Timothy (Ted) Joseph Connolly, born in Innishannon, Ireland on November 14, 1935, passed away on October 14, 2016 at the age of 80 with Brenda, the love of his life, best friend and wife of 56 years, by his side as he settled in to watch his beloved Coronation Street. Always the adventurer, at the age of 15 he left Knockroe (the farm in Innishannon, Ireland) and his parents Mary and "the Boss" (Jeremiah) and joined the Irish Navy. After moving to England in search of higher wages he had his first experience with poverty and hunger while working as a bus conductor. Seeking a better life he joined the English army at the age of 17. In 1956 he boarded the SS Scythia out of Cork, Ireland with a few hundred pounds in his pocket. Despite fancying himself a proficient card player he landed in Nova Scotia with 3 pounds to his name. (Fortunately his big brother Paddy met him on the dock.) Ever the socialite he never missed a local dance and an opportunity to meet a lass - until he met Brenda Crump. As a Test and Regulating Chief for Canadian Pacific Telegraph in Sudbury, Ontario he would put calls through to Canadian National Telegraph in Toronto where she was a teletype operator. He stole her heart during her many trips to Sudbury and proposed to her after watching her get off the train in Kenora (where he stationed) because "never did I see such a wonderful spectacle in my life – she looked bloody marvelous so who the ____ was I to resist it all." His travels often left Brenda with all of the heavy lifting including delivering his favorite son Tim in his absence while he was working on the Mid Canada Line in desolate Winisk (Northern Ontario); he was never so elated and so much in love than when he first held Tim, his pride and joy. Determined to witness the birth of his favorite daughter Patti, Ted donned a doctor’s smock and mask to steal into the delivery room in Moses Lake Washington and was permitted to stay by the ham radio enthusiast doctor. Ted’s family knew when he went to get his atlas to brace for another adventure. While working as a cypher equipment specialist in Beirut Lebanon he helped out at the Canadian Embassy in Tehran, Iran where he managed to get himself and Brenda arrested as spies after being caught breaking up and burying old cypher equipment (as they were unable to ship it back to Canada.) Ever the thinker he was always looking for a better design or solution and while in India he built a letter bomb detector for the Canadian High Commission (Embassy) - to ensure no one blew him up by mishandling mail. A perpetual student and teacher, his children, friends, fellow students and coworkers always knew he was about to impart a valuable life lesson when he began a sentence with "Let me walk you through this, . . .." Ted believed one needed the right tool for the job but believed in its absence there was nothing a little Epoxy glue couldn’t fix. Ted was quick to make friends and never forgot a kindness from a friend or family. He is survived by many people he cherished: Sisters Breda Connolly and Mary Kelly, brother Jim (Sheila) Connolly, (brothers Dermot and Paddy (Vivian) Connolly predeceased Ted in 1943 and 2012.) He also leaves behind: Brothers-in-law George (Jean) Crump, Frank Kelly, sisters-in-law Betty (Stan) Totman, Carol (Ralph) Butcher and Erica Crosse, daughter-in-law Sharon, grandchildren Andrea, Dillon, Rachael, Caitlin and Anya, great grandchildren Veronica, Lauren and Brooklyn, numerous nieces, nephews and life long friends. A service will later be held in Ireland where his treasured Irish family and friends can "tip a few drinks" in his honor. A memorial service will be held at Afton Community Centre in New Dominion on Saturday October 22, 2016 from 1 – 3 p.m.


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