WEST NEWBURY - Evelyn Mary (Comeau) Connolly of West Newbury who devoted her life to her large family, particularly her son Jon, died Monday, July 4, 2016 at Kaplan Family Hospice House, Danvers. She was 91. Evelyn was born June 6, 1925 in Haverhill MA to Hilarion (Larry) Comeau and Aimee (Emma) Blinn Comeau who were from Church Point, Nova Scotia. Evelyn was the last born and the only survivor of eight children. When Evelyn was nine months old, her mother died. She had a dear sister Mary Rose Comeau Donahue and brothers Louis, Dennis, John, Joseph, Leo, and Edward. Leo was killed in 1944 at the battle at Anzio, Italy. The Joseph C. Comeau Bridge in Haverhill is named for another of her beloved brothers. She grew up in the Bellevue Avenue and Swasey Field areas of Haverhill. She attended St. Joseph's School, speaking French and English, and graduated from Haverhill High School where she was a cheerleader. She worked at Western Electric before her marriage to Richard J. Connolly in 1946. Throughout Dick's career as a reporter for newspapers in Haverhill, Portsmouth NH, and Boston, including The Boston Globe , she raised seven children. Once her kids were older, she worked at the deli counter at the West Newbury Food Mart, a job she loved. After the birth of her son Jon, in 1967, Evelyn joined the then-Northern Essex County Association for Retarded Children, serving as the ARC's President. In the days when children with mental disabilities were often denied education or relegated to separate classrooms, Evelyn advocated for mainstreaming in schools. Evelyn maintained a home with an open door-and sweet, home-baked treats-for anyone who dropped by. She enjoyed sitting by the pool. Year-round she snuggled on her screened porch, reading the newspaper or a library book, usually with a cat and a dog nearby, and the woodstove burning when needed. She found great joy in her grandchildren, including two who lived with her and four who lived next door for many years. For all but the last three months of her life, Evelyn was able to live at home thanks to the loving care of her daughter Eileen. Although Evelyn had dementia and many difficult days in the past year, she could still make a funny remark, recall her childhood, and flip through the pages of a cooking magazine noting what looked yummy. She was a tiny woman with great strength and the will to live. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband on their 65th wedding anniversary, two infant daughters, grandsons Andrew Silvia and Michael Connolly, and son-in-law Oliver (Lee) Loring Jr. She leaves her seven children (and spouses) Maureen Ann Connolly of Cumberland Foreside, ME; Susan Silvia (Robert) of Merrimac; James Connolly (Eileen) of Portsmouth, NH; and Peter Connolly (Roberta), Adam Connolly (Anne), Eileen M. Connolly, and Jon Connolly all of West Newbury. She was "Grammy" and "Gram" to Ian (Leah) Silvia and Jana Silvia (Randy King), Jennifer Connolly (Harrison Marcotte), Brendan Connolly (Jessica Olson), Danielle Burrill (Dana), Steven Connolly, Erin Cherry (Cason), Brianna Connolly (Stephen Bajko), Bridget Connolly (Jarred Murphy), Alex Connolly (Shannan Bresnahan), Brett Connolly, Maggie LeMaitre, Joseph LeMaitre, Eric Doyle, and Aidan Doyle. Her great-grandchildren are Audrey Silvia, Owen Silvia, Dana Burrill III, and Patrick Burrill. Celebration of Evelyn's life will be held on Sunday, July 10 at 2:00 PM in Veasey Memorial Park, 201 Washington St., Groveland, MA. For more information visit www.veaseypark.org / All are welcome. Burial will be at a later date in Bridge Street Cemetery, West Newbury. Contributions in Evelyn's memory would be appreciated by Opportunity Works, 10 Opportunity Way, Newburyport, MA 01950 www.opportunityworks.net/get-involved/donate-now/