Meet Our Staff

Colt Connelly and his father opened the Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk in 1973 and he assumed sole ownership in 1996. Colt was born to be a funeral director, living upstairs in the apartment with his parents, he always said, “The parking lot was my backyard”. 

Colt was a loving husband to his wife, Karen Connelly, and a proud father to his sons, Andrew Connelly and his wife, Samantha, and Shane Connelly and his wife, Jenna. He reveled in the joy of being a grandfather.

His passion for his work as the owner of Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk allowed him to offer comfort to families during their most difficult times, embodying the compassion and dedication he was known for. His legacy will continue at the Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk under the ownership of his wife and children. 

John Mills Jr. is a devoted family man, married to the love of his life, and a proud father of four children and grandfather to five granddaughters. A committed member of his church community, John finds joy in serving others. Since 1991, he has dedicated his career to providing compassionate care as a Funeral Director. In his free time, John is an avid golfer, finding peace and enjoyment on the course.

Proverbs 3:5-6

James grew up in Dundalk and has always considered this community his home. After graduating from the Community College of Baltimore County’s Mortuary Science program in 2011, he completed his apprenticeship at Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk—the same funeral home his family trusted long before he began his career in funeral service. Earning his license was both a professional milestone and a personal honor, allowing him to serve the families of this community with care and compassion.

It is deeply meaningful to him to provide comfort and guidance to the place he grew up, and he takes pride in making a difference for families during some of life’s most difficult moments

Outside of work, he enjoys traveling and exploring national parks, always looking for new places to experience and appreciate. He also never turns down the chance to catch a good comedy show to relax, laugh, and enjoy time with friends and family.

Samantha Connelly is an Administrative Assistant and a Funeral Apprentice at Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk. She is married to Andrew Connelly, and together they have three children. Samantha cherishes spending quality time with her family, particularly enjoying camping trips together. 

Jenna is a mom of two adventurous boys and wife to Shane Connelly. Their home is always full of life—not just from the kids, but also their two dogs, three cats and a tank full of fish! She’s a big animal lover and enjoys spending her free time doing crafts and making memories with her family.

Daniel worked as an ironworker, dedicating many years to the trade. In his retirement, he joined the staff at Connelly Funeral Home. Danny is passionate about spending time with his large family and enjoys playing golf in his leisure time.

Darlene Peters in a retired Baltimore County Police Lieutenant of 29 years. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, crabbing and being outdoors.

Sean Edwards was born and raised in Dundalk and has dedicated over 20 years to serving families in the funeral industry. An avid Dallas Cowboys fan, he enjoys old music and Corvettes in his spare time. Sean resides in Harford County with his loving family and two German shepherds.

Gary was born and raised in Dundalk. He’s been married for 42 years and has 2 children and 3 grandchildren. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and watching his grandchildren play sports.

Debbie Strickland was born and raised in Dundalk, where she attended Dundalk High School. A retired hairdresser, she also served 10 years at Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk. Debbie is a proud mother of two adult children and a devoted grandmother to three beloved grandchildren.

Damian lives in Dundalk with his wife and their lively household of four dogs and six cats. A lover of the outdoors, he often spends time hiking, but he’s just as happy indoors playing video games or diving into comic books.  He also enjoys going to concerts.

Shane Connelly is a lifelong resident of Sparrows Point. Growing up in the Connelly family, Shane began assisting around the funeral home at just 12 years old. He is married to his wife, Jenna, and together they have two sons. In his personal time, Shane enjoys hunting and fishing. 

My name’s Emma and as part of the team at Connelly I work remotely providing meaningful aftercare for the families we serve via text message and email. I cherish the opportunity of connecting with families every day by sharing helpful resources and having genuine conversations. It’s an honor serving our community in this capacity and implementing values I hold dear in my personal life as well. Namely, kindness, selflessness, and connection. Outside of work, you’ll catch me reading a book, going for a run, or spending time with my family.