Connelly, Pat 

88 04/18/1922 09/08/2010 Pat Connelly was born to Mary 
Ellen Brill and Robert M. Connelly in Appleton, Wis. She worked 
for Kimberly Clark before joining the U.S. Navy WAVES (Women 
Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in 1943, where she 
was an aircraft gunnery instructor while stationed at Pensacola 
Naval Air Station. After World War II, she returned to Appleton 
and attended Lawrence University. She then moved to Chicago 
and worked for Radio WGN and the American Dental 
Association. In 1952, her sense of adventure took her to San 
Francisco, and while working at the advertising firm of BBDO 
she met her future husband, Philip F. Wax. In 1955, they moved 
to Portland where they joined her husband's family and raised 
three children in Northeast Portland. Pat worked at Portland 
Community College where she also completed her associate 
degree. She began skiing at 51 and continued for 20 years. She 
traveled extensively in her retirement years. She enjoyed 
entertaining and gardening, but most of all learning. Her 
curiosity and intellect never slowed. She was independent, 
active, always game, and loved to dance. She never said "no" to 
an invitation, and issued them often. Pat was proud of her 
naval service, her work history, her home, her Irish heritage, 
and her family. The St. Francis Parish community was an 
important part of her life. Pat is survived by her son, Phil Wax 
(Viola); daughters, Ellen Wax (Dave Huffman) and Carmel Wax; 
granddaughters, Katherine, Emily, Madeleine, and Elizabeth 
Wax, and Grace Huffman; brother, Robert M. Connelly; sister, 
Ellen Rice; and many nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass with 
military honors will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, in 
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1131 S.E. Oak St., 
Portland. A celebration of her life will follow in the Laurelhurst 
Club, 3721 S.E. Ankeny St., Portland. Remembrances may be 
made to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Published in The Oregonian on September 19, 2010