Surrounded by his wife, daughter in law and daughter, James "Jim" Donnelly passed away peacefully at home on February 17, 2021, at the age of 94.

Jim was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1926 to James Francis "Frank" Donnelly and Mary Agnes Higgins.  He had one brother, Joseph.

During his long life, Jim took the greatest pride and joy in his wife and his family.  While both were attending colleges in Pennsylvania, Jim met Jane Brackin on a blind date in 1948.  In June 1950, they married at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and enjoyed a loving and devoted marriage for over 70 years.  He was the beloved father to James "Jim" F.  Donnelly III (Denise) and Mary Donnelly, devoted grandfather to Erin Cochran (Bobby), Daniel Stevens (Annie) and Gregory Tsalikis, and great-grandfather to Rory Cochran and Penelope and Asher Nguyen-Stevens.

During WWII, Jim served in the Navy aboard the APA-114 USS Hamblen. At the end of his Pacific Theater tour in WWII, he returned to Pennsylvania to complete his Mechanical Engineering degree at Villanova University.  During his career, he worked for E.I. DuPont in Delaware, Florida and Maryland.  He retired from the US Army Corps of Engineers in Washington, D.C. in 1992.

Jim loved classical music and was an avid reader of history.  He was the family historian and storyteller.  He enjoyed sharing time with his family, watching news and sports on TV.  He took great pride in following his grandchildren's activities and accomplishments.

Jim and Jane moved to Severna Park in 1960.  Upon their arrival, they joined St. John the Evangelist mission church.  As devout parishioners at St. John the Evangelist, the family is requesting that memorial donations be made to either St. John the Evangelist Church or St. John the Evangelist School

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother and his son.

The family would also like to acknowledge other family and friends; Denise's spouse, John Watson, nieces Joan Johnson and Ellen Cox (Tim), nephew Robbie Swanson (Isabelle) and special friends Emilie, Carmela and Mike, Bud, Vince, Nancy, Michelle and Tim, Mary and Larry and their families.

Out of respect for everyone's safety due to the pandemic, the family will live stream a Funeral Mass on March 6, 2021 at 10am at: https://boxcast.tv/view/in-loving-memory-james-francis-donnelly-zfykbbxbqqplwuebbkrv

A memorial mass is planned for late Spring or Summer.  Inurnment will be private at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.

In lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions may be made to St. John the Evangelist Church or St. John the Evangelist School, 689 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park MD 21146.   The link for donations to the church is: https://www.stjohnsp.org/give and the link for donations to the school is at http://www.stjohnspschool.org/giving

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com