Gerard James Connell

Gerard James Connell, 94, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2019 at Harbor Hospice in Houston, Texas in the presence of family. We are so grateful to have been blessed with his love, deep faith, wisdom, curious intellect, humility and gentle humor.

Gerry was born on March 14, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York to Francis Michael Connell and Agnes Veronica Conner. After graduating high school, he earned his aircraft mechanic license before entering the service during WWII. He served 33 months of active duty in the U.S. Navy, learning to fly and was honorably discharged in January 1947. After the service he met the love of his life, Theresa Maloney, and they married in 1952. Gerry continued to be a loving and devoted husband for 67 years. After working at National City Bank and Eastern Airlines, Gerry joined M. W. Kellogg where he worked for 39 years in the construction department as a welding specifications expert. He was highly respected by his colleagues for his hard work, professionalism, integrity and genuine friendliness and good humor. Gerry and Terri lived in Deer Park, Long Island, New York for 12 years before moving the family to Houston, Texas when his company relocated its corporate office. Gerry was a loving and devoted father to his 5 children who have many cherished memories of him throughout his many years on earth. Gerry was also someone who cherished his relationships with others. He had the ability to sit and look at you directly and really listen with a caring and sensitive demeanor. Anyone who met Gerry, fell in love with him instantly.

Gerry was a devout Catholic with an ever-deepening faith and spirituality throughout his life. As a parishioner of St. Albert Catholic Church in Houston, he served as minister of the Eucharist and lector. He also worked with St. Vincent de Paul delivering food from St. Albert's pantry. He loved his parish church and they loved him.

After retiring from Kellogg, Gerry went on to volunteer at M.D. Anderson Hospital in the Texas Medical Center from 1992-2008. He then became a volunteer with the Chaplain Corp, visiting patients of all faiths at Memorial Hermann Hospital where he would pray with them and offer Catholic patients communion.

Gerry embraced retirement in other ways, such as traveling the world with Terri and dedicating himself to oil painting. He attended weekly art classes for many years and he produced over 100 works of his art, some of which now reside in the homes of his children, grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Frankie, and son Joseph Connell. Those left to cherish Gerry are his loving wife Terri, daughter, Mary Connell, daughter Linda Dennison and her husband Emerson Marcellus, daughter Susan Varga and husband Peter, son Geoffrey Connell and wife Naoko. He is also survived by his grandchildren Lisa Dennison and her husband Jeff Woodruff, Marie Connell Nakashima and her husband Yuuzo, Mark Connell, Andrew Varga and Thomas Varga and great-grandchildren, Ellis Dennison-Woodruff and Haru-kun Nakashima.

Visitation is scheduled for Monday evening January 6, 2019 from 5-7pm at Earthman Southwest Funeral Home, 12555 S. Kirkwood Rd, Stafford, TX 77477, immediately followed by a Rosary from 7-8pm. A memorial service mass will be Tuesday, January 7, 2019 at 11:30am at St Albert Catholic Church, 11027 S. Gessner Rd. Houston, TX 77071. There will be an opportunity to visit with the family immediately prior to the Mass between 10:30-11:30am. Burial service will be at 2:00pm at Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77038.

To express condolences, visit Earthmansouthwest.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, 2403 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77021.