Patricia Connolly (née Kelly)
Pat
Born 16 January 1965 at home, Mansfield Road, Aston.
Died 9 March 2026 at home.

When Patricia was born in a terraced house in Aston, January of 1965, the world became a little bit brighter. Born to parents Patrick and Kathleen, they didn’t have much growing up, but Pat went on to be the biggest part of so many lives. She attended Sacred Heart for primary school (where she met her future husband, David), and Cardinal Wiseman for secondary. David went to a different school at the time (Handsworth Grammar), but he wasn’t dissuaded from pursuing her anyway – one of the best decisions he has ever made.

She didn’t enjoy her school days so much, but happily began working as a library assistant for the council – she worked at Hampstead, Tower Hill, Birchfield Perry Barr, and Perry Common libraries. She was very proud of her work at the library and was said to see so many of them shuttered in later years. Pat and David became an item one December evening in 1984 to the tune of Jim Reeves and were inseparable from then on. On 16 June 1990, they were married, and just over four years later, Jacob was born. Soon after, David bought a garage in Erdington to transform his mobile mechanic business and Pat started working part-time as a secretary there alongside working at the libraries.

Soon, she became an integral part of the business, and just before the turn of the millennium, when Shaun was born, she finished working at the libraries. She managed well the demands of being the mother of two sons and working part-time, wrangling unruly children with ease. At the local school, she met a group of firm friends, and they went on a great deal of adventures together – she particularly enjoyed concerts, karaoke, dancing, fancy dress, and hosting.

She was an excellent cook, accepting no criticism. She was a staunch supporter of her family, and rarely suffered nonsense from others. She enjoyed the wildlife in the garden (with particular fondness for robins), and loved her dogs (Sadie, Bailey, Rosie, and Maple). She had a great singing voice, used all too little; often just to harass her children out of bed. Later in life, it came as a great shock when David actually retired – on the day he said he was finished, she incredulously asked him “so are you going to work today?”. Thereafter, she and David took trips more frequently with friends and alone with the dogs, abroad and in the UK in the camper van. Although it was shortly before she passed, she was truly happy to see (even if only on video) her granddaughter, Ayla Patricia Connolly, born to Jacob and his wife, Beatrice.

She is survived by her husband, Dave; her sons, Jacob and Shaun; her granddaughter, Ayla; and her beloved sister, Jayne. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Michael and Martin; and her sister, Kathy.

Please join us in delivering Patricia to her final rest and celebrating her storied life.