Jerome Daniel 'Jerry' Connell

Jerome Daniel “Jerry” Connell, 85, of Dunbar, passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 26, 2022 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born July 17, 1936 in Uniontown, a son of the late William C. Sr. and Coletta (Callahan) Connell.

He graduated from Dunbar Township High School, where he met his high school sweetheart, Renee, who believes wholeheartedly that it was love at first sight.

He was a member of St. Vincent DePaul R.C. Church, Dunbar prior to its closure and he was an active member of St. Aloysius R.C. Church, Dunbar.  He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Slovak Club.

He served his Country proudly in the United States Navy. He was proud of his devotion to his church,  God and his Country.

Jerry was employed through Anchor Hocking Glass as a millwright for 43 years until his retirement. For those 43 years, Jerry truly loved his job and he never missed a day of work.

To say he was a hardworking man was an understatement. Even after his retirement, he made sure to keep himself busy, whether it was keeping his yard pristine by cutting the grass and weed-whacking or he kept himself busy while chasing after and spending time with his adored grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was the most important thing to him. He was proud of his family and cherished them more than they will ever know.

Jerry was someone who could talk to anyone and enjoyed speaking to and getting to know people. He could easily make friends with anyone, even most recently, the nurses who cared for him at his last hospital stay made sure to check in on him and to make sure they said goodbye to him when he was discharged.

He will be deeply missed by his family and those who had the opportunity to have known him.

Jerry is survived by his beloved wife and sweetheart of 63 years, Renee (Lyon) Connell; children, Lisa Polito (Dom), Erin Connell (Tom), Linley Metsger (Kevin), Damon Connell (Melissa), Kristen Dowden (Mike), Joel W. Connell (Robin); a special “son”, Jeff Cole (Diane); grandchildren, Adrianne Polito, Dom Polito III (Emily), Nicklaus Polito (Lisa), Angelina Cunningham (Chris), Vincent Polito (Ashley), Kurt Bartholomai (Mary), Natalie Hughes (Mike), Kyle Metsger, Lance Metsger (Kayla) Breanna DeMott (Josh), Jerry Connell (Savannah), Jake Connell (Hattie), Ben Connell (Shelby), Brandon Dowden (Niki), Meghan Dowden (Justin), Jonathan Dowden, Catherine Connell, Dean Connell, Sammi Ryder (Will), and Grant Schoek (Alyssa); great-grandchildren, Evelyn Parker, Rory Cunningham, Ivy June Polito, Maverick, Caleb, and Henrick Hughes, Maggie DeMott, Sullivyn Connell, Lola and Rose Ryder, Cohen Schoeck, and Hayden and Eliam Dowden; brother, David Connell.

In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by his brothers, William Connell, Jack Connell, and Joseph Connell; sister, Catherine Connell-Basinger; infant brothers, Vincent and Paul Connell; grandson, Kalen Polito; infant granddaughter, Renee Metsger and his beloved-in-laws, Irene and William “Bill” Lyon.

Family and friends will be received in the PAUL G. FINK FUNERAL HOME, INC. 418 North Pittsburgh Street Connellsville, PA 15425 on Friday from 2pm – 8pm and on Saturday from 8:30am until 9:30am when Prayers of Transfer will be held. A Mass of Christian Burial at 10am will immediately follow at St. Aloysius R.C. Church, Dunbar with Fr. Julius Capongpongan as Celebrant.

Committal will follow at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Dunbar.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jerry’s name in honor of Ivy June Polito to The Children’s Heart Foundation – 5 Revere Drive, Suite 200, Northbrook, IL 60062 or you can go through the donation tab on the website ChildrensHeartFoundation.org

If you wish to leave an online condolence for the family, please visit our website: www.paulgfinkfuneralhome.com.

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