Obituary of Jessica Connolly

Jessica Lynn Connolly, a 14 year old Burlington resident died Monday afternoon, June 27 from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident. Jessica was born in Winchester. She had spent her entire life in Burlington. She attended Francis Wyman Elementary School and Marshall Simonds Middle School and had just finished her freshman year at Burlington High School. At the High School, she was a member of the track team. She took karate lessons and had earned five belts. She enjoyed swimming. Her favorite band was Eminem. Like many teenage girls, she loved to sing, dance, get her nails and make up done. She also was a fan of Pro Wrestling. She volunteered her time working with Alzheimer’s patients at Country Club Heights in Woburn for the past year. She leaves many friends and classmates at Burlington High School. Jessica is the beloved daughter of Donna (Connolly) and Albert Stanley of Burlington. She is the loving sister of Hailey, Alyssa, Keith, & Shanya. She is the granddaughter of Jeannette Connolly of Woburn, Donald Connolly of Andover, and the late Albert and Vincenza Stanley. She is the Great Granddaughter of the late Laurier and Lucienne Pouliot, who had a great influence on Jessica, when she was growing up. Niece of Donald Connolly, Jr. of Malden, Dolores Vargus of Cambridge, and Marion Carter of ME. Cousin of Rachael Connolly, Jennifer, Nicholas, Daniel, Christopher, and Melanie Pouliot. Great niece of Bernadette Pouliot of Woburn and Leo Pouliot of NH. Jessica is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and many many friends. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Saturday, July 2 at 8:45 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy’s Church at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Friday 4-9 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jessica’s name may be made to the Burlington High School Scholarship Foundation, Burlington, High School, 123 Cambridge St., Burlington, MA 01803. Sahar's Eulogy Jessica Lynn Connolly was my classmate, coworker, and above all, my best friend. She was the happiest person I knew. Inside her beautiful blonde hair, gorgeous green eyes and mesmerizing smile, was the sweetest, kindest, most outgoing, fun-loving person I have ever met. I actually met Jessica in the eighth grade in history class. She sat beside me everyday and we’d talk about the ins and outs of our school and how boring Mr. Shea, our history teacher, was. Before I met her, I was very shy. She gave me the confidence to just be myself. People told me ever since I became friends with her, that I changed for the better. She supported me throughout everything I did even if she didn’t agree with it. She cared for me and took care of me when I was sick or sad. Jessica would always say that we come in a pair. If you want one of us…too bad…you get both of us! We’d brag to people how we had *esp.* and were able to read each other’s mind. We were inseparable. If we weren’t together everyday, we’d be on the phone with each other. We had plans for the future. We were supposed to go to Spain together next year and share an apartment in UMASS Amherst. She was my everything. A few months ago, on my birthday she threw me the best surprise party and she even felt guilty for keeping it a secret from me! She planned with all my friends to cover my locker with posters wishing me a Happy Birthday. It was the best birthday I ever had. On top of everything else, she was also very smart. She’d help me with vocabulary and I helped her with her Spanish. I got an “A” in English and she won an award in Spanish! I’ll never forget the time someone stole $90.00 from me, she bought me a large bailey’s shake to make me feel better. And just a week ago, when she came to my dance recital, I saw her after the show and she put on her usual sparkling smile and said “There’s my star!” and gave me a huge hug. Every weekend Jessica and I would go to Dunkin Donuts when I slept over. And every weekend there was a man sitting in the corner of the donut shop looking very sad, Jessica kept telling me how bad she felt for him. Eventually, one day, she actually went up to him and asked in a loud cheerful voice “is there anything wrong?” and started talking to him! Even the elderly people at our work in Country Club Heights loved her! She would talk to all of them and ask how they were doing or how their families were? After only 6 months of working there she earned a raise! She fought for me everyday to have that job with her and before long, I too started working there. Just a few months ago, we went to the Nelly concert together and she was fighting some girl for Nelly’s water bottle to give to me because she knew how much I loved Nelly, just as much as she loved Eminem. I told her to just let it go but she wouldn’t give up. She was more disappointed than I was when we didn’t get it. She loved all types of music and was always singing and dancing. She loved the song “All My Life” by KC and JOJO; she even requested it at the school dance and dreamed of playing it at her future wedding. She was extremely close with her parents, one time when we woke up, her dad, Al attacked me with shaving cream. Meanwhile I heard Jessica laughing in the other room. He told me it was Jessica who made him do it... so I told him to go back and cover her in shaving cream too. Next thing I know, Al, Jessica, her mom Donna and even her little sister Alyssa were covered in shaving cream. Every memory I have of Jessica is all of happy moments. In her short life she has impacted many lives. Actually just this last Sunday, she told me how much she missed hanging out with me. And I promised that I would definitely sleep over on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week and she was so excited! Jessica’s lines were always “Sahar you’re a mess!” or “you’re nuts!!” She had the most contagious laugh and made everyone smile even when they didn’t want to. Just a couple of weeks ago, when I cheered her up and got her to laugh she told me “oh Sahar, you always make me feel better no matter what”. The way she described me, was exactly the way I felt about her. I can’t believe she’s not here anymore. She was always there for me. She was an angel on earth, but now with just a halo and wings. I miss you Jessica. I’ll never forget you. Love always, Sahar