Lorette Connolly (1886-1940)

CONNOLLY, MCNICHOLS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/20/2016 at 22:28:38

From Nevada Evening Journal May 24, 1940

Funeral Rites and Committal of Laurette Connolly

The remains of Laurette Connolly, native daughter of Nevada township, who died at the Southern Pacific hospital at San Francisco, May 10, were laid to rest in St. James cemetery, Colo, Thursday, May 16, after services in St. Mary's church, Colo, with Rev. Fr. Steffen reading the mass.

Laurette was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Connolly, pioneers of the eastern part of Nevada township. She had been ill for a few weeks and had been cared for in the Southern Pacific hospital.

Born and reared in the old homestead east of Nevada, she attended the public schools and later attended and was graduated from West Des Moines high school.

Shortly after finishing her high school course she entered the office of the American Telephone Company in Des Moines, was transferred from there to Omaha and then on to San Francisco.

It was in 1922 than she entered the offices of the Southern Pacific railroad company in San Francisco and remained in that position until her death.

She had been active in Red Cross and similar work and was prepared to go overseas in Red Cross work just at the time of close of the World war. She was a member of the Women's Athletic club and also of the charity organizations of Old St. Mary's church there, of which she was a member.

Her life had been one of thoughtfulness and kindness to those with whom she came in contact and she had given liberally of both her time and money in helping others.

Services were held at a funeral home in San Francisco before the trip home was started, and they were attended by a large group of friends and associates.

The remains were accompanied to Iowa by a nephew, Will McNichols of Hollywood, Cal. The body was taken to the old home where it lay in state until Thursday morning when mass was at St. Mary's church, Colo.

Honorary pallbearers at the service in San Francisco were David F. Suppee, supreme warden Knights of Columbus; George Reiley, member state board of equalization and member supreme board of directors A. O. H.; Wm. R. Wallace, Jr., San Francisco attorney; Dr. Guy B. Desparois, president Hollywood Rotary club; Clifford Harris, M.G.M. Studios, Hollywood; Wm. J. McNichols, her nephew, Hollywood attorney; Senator Charles W. Lyons, Hollywood, Calif.; Fred Perlin, United Artists Studio, Hollywood; Blaney Matthews, Warner Bros. Studio, Hollywood; Thomas O'Donnell, retired Hollywood; Gerald F. Harrington, Oakland attorney, and Justice Thos. P. White, California appellate court, Los Angeles.