Peter I. Donnelly

Peter Donnelly, 78, passed away on Friday, June 5, 2026. Son of the late John and Grace (Daniher) Donnelly, he was born in Orange, New Jersey on November 18, 1947. Peter received his bachelor’s degree in English from St. Peter’s College and master’s degrees in English and Education from Montclair State College in New Jersey. He taught English at Hasbrouck Heights High School throughout most of his career, eventually becoming principal of multiple schools within the district. After retiring, he moved to Connecticut to become principal at St. Gabriel School in Windsor, Connecticut before returning to teach English abroad in Turkey, and finally at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA. Peter was a lifelong devout Catholic and an active member of the St. Stephen Orthodox Church in Ludlow, Massachusetts.

Peter is survived by his son, Eric Donnelly and daughter Emily Donnelly and her husband, Nathaniel Moore, his brother John, as well as many nieces in the Donnelly, Mullen, and Walter families. In addition to his parents, Peter was also predeceased by two brothers, Damien and Thomas, and two sisters, Marie and Grace.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 10:00am at St. Stephen Orthodox Church, 44 Sewall St., Ludlow, MA, with burial immediately following in Reservoir Cemetery, in Ludlow. Calling hours will be held from 4:00-6:00pm on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Kapinos-Mazur Funeral Home, 64 Sewall St., Ludlow, MA.