Jean McGarry Wrote
Jean M. McGarry Wrote, 89, of Connellsville, Pa., passed to her heavenly home Friday, December 2, 2011 a t Latrobe Select Specialty Care Hospital
Daughter of the late John Joseph McGarry and Genevieve (Warg) McGarry, she was born on July 22, 1922 in Hazleton, Pa.
She graduated from Hazelton High School in 1940 where she was very active, serving as President of the Cadettes and also a member of the National Thespian Dramatic Honor Society. She was elected ‘Miss Hazleton High School’ in 1940.
She graduated from the Franklin Business School and then began a 40 year career with Bell Telephone of PA. She served as Director of Public Relations for Western Pennsylvania with headquarters at Stanwix Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.
After retirement from the corporate world, Jean was elected as Connellsville City Controller in 1989, elected to City Council in 1993-1996, and elected as City Controller again in 2001-2011.
Jean was the first female to be elected to two different offices for the City of Connellsville, the first woman to seek the office of Mayor, and served longer than any other female elected City official.
Her many proud years as a Connellsville resident led her to be active as a member of the Wakefield Culture Club, the Mozart Club, Bullskin Lionesses, co-chair of the 1957 Connellsville March of Dimes campaign, President of the Connellsville High School Band Parents Association (1964-65), and President of the Parent’s Post Prom Committee (1965).
Most recently, she served two terms as the President of the Evergreen Council of the Bell Telephone Pioneers, encompassing F a y e t t e, Westmoreland and Indiana counties.
She was also actively involved as a member of the Connellsville Bicentennial Committee 2004-2006.
Jean received a ‘Special Recognition Award’ for ‘her many years of dedicated service to the community’ from the Greater Connellsville Area Chamber of Commerce in 2009.
As a member of St. John’s Evangelical Roman Catholic Church, she was a member of The Christian Mothers until her most recent illnesses.
Jean was a loyal sports fan, cheering for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, Duke Blue Devils Basketball, Notre Dame and Penn State.
She loved to visit and play cards at the Connellsville Senior Citizens Center.
She is survived by her daughter Judy and son-in-law Robert L. Keller, Connellsville six nieces; five nephews; and 21 great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded by sisters, Marge Dute of Hazleton, Pa., Cecilia McGarry of Pottsville, Pa., and Marion Brogan of Rockville, Md.; and brother, Thomas L. McGarry of Pottsville, Pa.
The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Carnegie Free Library, South Pittsburgh Street, Connellsville, PA 15425 in memory of Jean.
Friends will be received today from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. in VITO C. MARTUCCI F U N E R A L H O M E, 123 South First Street, West Side, Connellsville (724.628.9033).
A Blessing Service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 7, in the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. John’s Evangelical Roman Catholic Church, Connellsville, with Monsignor J. Edward McCullough as Celebrant.
Entombment will follow in Middle Churches Presbyterian Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Pa.
Visitation was also held on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m.