Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, November 8. The funeral procession will assemble at 10:15 a.m. Monday at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic, and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Agnes Church scheduled for 11 a.m. Interment will follow in East Lyme Cemetery.
East Lyme - James Finnegan, 76, of 38 Bush Hill Drive, Niantic, died Friday morning, Nov. 6, 2009, at Sava Healthcare at Bridebrook, after a heroic three year battle. He was born in New London, July 7, 1933, the son of Frederick and Josephine (O'Connell) Finnegan. He married Anne DeLaura in St. Joseph Church in New London, and they had been married for 51 years. Mr. Finnegan was a graduate of New London High School and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. He retired from the Southern New England Telephone Co., where he had been a central office repairman. He was a life member of the Thomas Hose Fire Co., New London Breakfast Club, and was a member of the New London Football Hall of Fame. In addition to his wife, Anne, he is survived by a son, James Finnegan of Niantic; two daughters, Grace Elliott and her husband, William, of Waterford and Terry Giles of Niantic; a brother, Frederick Finnegan of San Marcos, Calif.; four sisters, Frances Finnegan, Grace Finnegan, Harriet Nichols, all of Quaker Hill, and Joan Macione of Uncasville. He is survived by two grandsons, Brian and Zachary Elliott. He was predeceased by a sister, Barbara McCarthy. His family is extremely grateful to those who took such great care of him over the past three years as well as to those who visited with him frequently throughout his illness. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice or a charity of your choice.
