Catherine Mary Fennelly

catherine fennelly
Catherine Mary Fennelly, 100 years old, died at her home of twenty years in Ashlar Village in Wallingford, Connecticut on January 12, 2019. Catherine, or 'Kate,' was born on October 24, 1918 on Staten Island in New York City. She was the daughter of Patrick Henry Fennelly and Catherine Agnes Schrowang Fennelly. As a teenager she attended an advanced academic program at New Haven High School (now Hillhouse High School), after which she received a full scholarship to study history at Notre Dame of Staten Island (later St. John's University), where she was on the Dean's List. She earned her Master's Degree in History from Columbia University in New York City, and her Ph.D. from Yale University, in an era when female Ph.D.s were very rare. She taught at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven until 1948 when she accepted the position of Director of Research and Publications at Old Sturbridge Village (OSV), in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. This also afforded her the opportunity to travel to Europe to acquire textiles and ceramics for OSV's collection. She especially loved visiting England, Scotland, Wales and her ancestral Ireland, as well as France and Italy. She retired from OSV in 1974 and moved back to North Haven. On a trip back to visit Old Sturbridge Village a few years ago Catherine was treated 'like royalty!' Over the years Ms. Fennelly was Head of the New Haven Historical Society, a member of the Junior League for Women, author and editor of several books and publications on ceramics and textiles, and in 1966 was elected to be a member of the prestigious American Antiquarian Society, which she felt was her greatest achievement. She also loved crewelwork, and one of her pieces won 2nd place at a Madison Square Garden event in New York. Aside from Catherine's passion for history and textiles, she also was passionate about her dogs, which numbered 20 or so over the decades. All were cocker spaniels, and most earned championships. She was also an avid cook and gardener, and had a fine sense of humor. She enjoyed a rich life filled with a large family and many wonderful friends. As matriarch of the family, she has been the glue that has tied the family together; a shining part of her legacy. She is predeceased by brothers Richard Edward Fennelly and Joseph Patrick Fennelly. She is survived by her brother, Robert Francis Fennelly (Eleanor Ann), many nieces and nephews, and her kitty cat, Teddy. On Saturday, January 19th at 10:00 AM there will be a Mass in her honor at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 2819 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT, where she had been a devoted parishioner for decades. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery on Evergreen Ave. in Hamden.

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  1. An accurate and thoughtful description of Aunt Catherine for sure. Thanks for expressing so well, Tom. I never quite knew how to describe her, but .true. is perfect. She showed a calm strength in every situation that I was witness to. Always .a lady.. A loss to those Fennellys she as close to, for sure….my heartfelt condolences……(valerie fennelly petersen)

  2. In my comparatively short life, I have never seen anyone so true to themselves as Catherine. She was true to faith, true to character, true to upbringing and true to education. Even in a maelstrom of crying kids and barking dogs she exhibited a strength of grace that never wavered. I admired her for this and will miss her example of how one could live in this changing and challenging world for one century. I am comforted by the knowledge that she is now at peace, welcomed to a world shining in the truth that she mirrored. – Tom Weeks


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