Mary “Polly” Murray Cunningham, 95, died September 4, 2017 surrounded by her family. She was born in Bridgeport, CT to Thomas and Mary (Diskin) Murray on December 22, 1921. She attended St. Patrick’s School and Central High School in Bridgeport and went on to graduate from UCONN in 1943. While at UCONN she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and was chosen to represent UCONN in Look Magazine’s Most Beautiful College Girls of America.
In August of 1944 she married Capt. Francis O. Cunningham, USMC. At the end of WWll, they moved to West Hartford and raised their family of 6 children.
Polly returned to teaching in the Hartford school system in 1961 and taught home economics at Barnard Brown School and then Quirk Middle School. After a rewarding teaching career she was awarded Teacher of the Year in 1982, when she retired.
In retirement she volunteered at St. Elizabeth House and was a member of the West Hartford Belles. She remained an active member of two book clubs until just recently. She also enjoyed creative writing and occasionally her stories were published in local newspapers.
She was a founding member and daily communicant of St. Helena Church, a former trustee of the church and a recipient of the Diocesan of St. Joseph medal. She was a member of the Woman’s Guild, the Renew Program, Social Action group and the Small Christian Community. She loved socializing with her church community where she had many, many dear friends including Mary & Michael Flynn who helped her immensely in her later years.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Francis Cunningham and her son James Cunningham. Her survivors include her brother, Thomas Murray (Mary Lou Cull) of Weston, CT, her children, Darcy Cunningham of New York City, NY, Leila Walden of Hull, MA, Brian Cunningham (Elizabeth Campo) of West Hartford, CT, Mary Krewsun (Harry) of Spring Valley, CA, Robert Cunningham of Westport, CT and a daughter-in-law, Sue Cunningham of Newington. She also leaves 6 grandchildren, Kate Rennie (Bill), Josh Staunton (Dianna), Peter Staunton (Tori), Darcey and Jennifer Cunningham and Conor Krewsun. In addition, she leave 8 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and extended family in the US and Ireland.
Her greatest joys in life were her faith, family and friends and she was an inspiration to all who knew her.
Calling hours will be at the Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave, West Hartford, Thursday, (September 7), from 4-7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Helena’s Church, 30 Echo Lane, West Hartford on Friday (September 8), at 11:00 am. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Britain. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to House of Bread, 1453 Main St. Hartford, CT 06120. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com