[Vision2020] [Bulk] Moscow Loses a Beloved Icon

[Paul Rumelhart]

Donovan,

I'm sorry for your loss.  I wish I'd had the honor of meeting her.  My 
heart goes out to you, to the rest of her family, and to her many friends.

Paul

Donovan Arnold wrote:
>
>  My heart hurts!!
>
>  
>
> My loving Aunt, Carol Ann Connelly, affectionately known by most of us 
> in Moscow as “Annie” has died this day, July, 12^th , 2008 at age 58. 
> Annie was the special daughter of the late Doris and Leland Connelly, 
> founders of Tri-State, and the sister of Gerard Connelly, current 
> owner of Tri-State, and sister to Michelle Connelly Arnold, and Mary 
> Connelly.
>
>  
>
> Annie was special because she was born with a developmental 
> disability, leaving her with a child like mind for her entire 58 years 
> of life. Annie was not expected to live very long after her birth, but 
> her family and community prayed to God and for an intercession from 
> Saint Gerard. Annie miraculously survived. Every day of her life 
> since has been both a blessing and a miracle.
>
>  
>
> Annie had the gift of making everyone smile. She had more friends than 
> most people can count. People in every corner of Moscow knew her. No 
> matter where she went, people always approached her and greeted her. 
> She did not judge others, and was friend to everyone. She was pure 
> heart and love. The simplest of things would make her smile, and her 
> laughter filled your heart with joy and comfort. There was nobody in 
> the world like her. She was without doubt her mother’s angel. God 
> blessed Moscow with her lifelong presents. She was a joy to all that 
> knew her.
>
>  
>
> Annie was born in 1949, a time when society was not as accepting of 
> people with disabilities and not included in much of main stream 
> society. Because of this, Annie’s family and friends had to work hard 
> to change laws and attitudes in Moscow and Idaho to include her and 
> people like her in our schools and other community activities. This 
> resulted in the creation of Moscow’s Opportunity School, and many 
> other legal and charitable organizations for people in Moscow and 
> Idaho with disabilities that followed behind her. Annie was a cause 
> and inspiration for many of the early pioneers that helped establish 
> many of the rights for those in Moscow and Idaho with disabilities.
>
>  
>
> I greatly miss my friend and aunt, Annie. When I was a child me and 
> Annie use to play games, go for walks, go on boat rides, work on 
> puzzles, and listen to records together in the summers and during 
> winter breaks. My heart breaks with her departure. Her fragile body 
> has finally given in to time after 58 years of living with many 
> challenges. She was a living angel, who has now gone to join the others.
>
>  
>
> I love you Annie!
>
>  
>
> Your loving nephew,
>
>  
>
> Donovan
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> =======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet, 
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
>                http://www.fsr.net                       
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================