Saratoga Springs - Peg Connolly (nee Pera) of Saratoga Springs, NY passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, May 31, 2024. Peg was born in Passaic, New Jersey on November 8, 1953. She grew up in Saddle River, NJ. She later moved to Brightwaters, NY, Buffalo, NY, and then settled in Saratoga Springs 24 years ago with her beloved husband, Jim. Over the past 42 years, they enjoyed traveling to places near and far and exploring new culinary delights together. Peg was also an active parishioner at St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs.

Peg attended Ramsey High School. She then received her Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's Degree in Fine Arts from Montclair State University in New Jersey. She pursued a career in education and particularly loved teaching art to children in their early grade school years for which she was much admired by her fellow teachers.

As much as she enjoyed teaching, Peg's real devotion was to her family and especially to her three sons, James Connolly, MD, Kevin Connolly, DO, and Craig Connolly, PhD, and to her grandson, Finn Connolly. No woman could have loved her children more than Peg loved hers.

In addition to her loving husband, sons, and grandson, Peg is survived by her sister Paulette Pera Laurenzi, brother-in-law John Laurenzi, nephew Matthew Laurenzi, and her sister Patricia Pera, brother-in-law Allen Itkin, niece Lisa Blaikie, and nephew Bobby Barbaris. She is also survived by her sons' soulmates, Angela Link Connolly, Kristen Stogsdill and Cameron Hess.

Relatives and friends may call from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at William J. Burke and Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 N Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Clement's Church, 231 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY on Friday, June 7th at 10:00am. Interment to follow at Greenridge Cemetery, 17 Green Ridge Place, Saratoga Springs, NY.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Peg's memory may be made in the form of a gift card to support her Lend a Hand program. Lend a Hand provides new clothing such as sweatpants, shorts, t-shirts and other essentials for local teenagers in need. Peg founded Lend a Hand when her three sons attended high school and passionately continued this tradition for over twenty years. Gift cards to Target, Walmart, or other stores would be used to continue the program in her memory and can be sent to Peg and Jim's home address.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.