Thursday, January 6, 2011
To the family of Mrs. Connolly,
Sadly, I have missed the announcement regarding Mrs. Connolly's passing. However, I would still like to share my thoughts about her.
I met Mrs. Connolly in the late 1960's ( I was in grade 8) after a particularly bad experience with another piano teacher. Jean took me in when I was "bruised" and helped me heal. Although I didn't do as much with my piano as I should have, my experience with Jean was pivotal in my life. While she was my teacher, I began to try playing basketball. I almost always showed up with a sprained thumb/finger. One day she said to me, "My dear, you must decide what you will do, piano or basketball. For piano, you need to be in one piece!" She had such a great sense of humour! Life circumstances moved me away from Cranbrook shortly after that. When I was older, we would often see each other when I was in Cranbrook and we would have great chats! Jean was a wonderful mentor and a great teacher....thanks Jean!
Dori (Lauzon) Vandaelle
