Obituary of Francis J Connell

Connell, Francis J., Jr. 80, of Seminole, died Saturday, October 14th, 2000 at his home. He came here in 1974 from his native Bethlehem, PA where he was the second generation Funeral Director in a family business, Connell Funeral Home, which began in 1919 under the leadership of his father, Francis J. Connell. Mr. Connell operated the funeral home for more than 40 years, retiring in 1985, and turning the business over to two of his sons, Patrick and Gene. Mr. Connell was a 1937 graduate of Bethlehem Catholic High School, he attended Moravian College in Bethlehem, and then graduated from Renaurds School of Mortuary Science in New York City. During WW II, he served in the Army with the 43rd Field Hospital in New Guinea, The Phillippines, and in Japan. He was active in the Bethlehem communuity serving as Past President of the former American Business Club; he was a member of the Board Of Directors of the former Wilbur Savings and Loan Association; he was Past President of the Eastern Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association; former member of the Chamber Of Commerce; and St. Anne?s Catholic Church and their Holy Name Society. He was also a member of the Knights Of Columbus Trinity Council #313 and the VFW in Bethlehem, and the South Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Company. Locally, he was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Seminole where he served as a Eucharistic Minister of the Faith, the Seminole Lake Country Club in Seminole, and the Mens Golf League. He was an avid golfer and accomplished the remarkable feat of scoring five holes in one. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Doreen; 1 daughter, Margaret A. ?Peg? Connell of Redington Shores, FL; 4 sons, Patrick J., James M., and Eugene J. all of Bethlehem, and Francis J., III of Wayne, PA; 1 stepdaughter, Heather Barnes of Deerfield Beach, FL; 14 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. He was pre-deceased by his first wife, Gertrude Hildenberger Connell, his parents, Francis J. and Mary Coyle Connell, and his sister, Sister Mary Francis Connell, O.S.U. The family requests that memorials be made to The Hospice Of The Florida Suncoast, 300 East Bay Dr., Largo, FL 33770. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Bobbitt Chapel.