Obituaries

Delores J. “Dee” Connolly of Bethlehem Township, PA died Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at Fellowship Manor, Whitehall. She was the eldest daughter of the late Donald and Mary Kummer of Easton and widow of Francis H. Connolly. She was a 1948 graduate of Easton High School and member of their reunion and scholarship committees. She attended Churchman’s Business College and the John Robert Powers School of Modeling in New York City where she worked as a professional runway and TV game show model.

Dee retired from the Easton Area School District where she was employed for 34 years as the Administrator of the Easton Area Earned Income Tax office. An honorary life member of the PA Earned Income Tax Officers, Administrators and Collectors Association, she served on their Board of Directors for 22 years and was elected the first woman President. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Mideastern Chapter of the American Heart Association as its First Vice President and was a lifetime member of the Northampton County Chapter of the Association of School Retirees and member of the PA Association of School Retirees.

She was a speaker at local high schools’ career conferences sponsored by the Easton Kiwanis Club and in 1983, was named Woman of the Year by the Forks of the Delaware Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. Dee was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir, served on the Finance, Building and Grounds Committees and was Past President of the Parish Council. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters, Court Easton, the Council of Catholic Women, Past President of the Altar and Rosary Society and former Treasurer of the Women’s Guild.

She is survived by her sisters: Helen McCall of Grants Pass, OR, Donna Smull (Joseph), of Orefield, PA; nephews: Stephen and Matthew Smull, Dr. Gregory Smull (Amy), niece: Melissa Visco (Robert) and their families, as well as many other nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Francis and sister, Carolyn Phillips.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 AM Thursday (Feb. 4) at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 152 South 5th St. Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Our Lady of Mercy Church or the Center for Animal Health and Welfare. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.