John Patrick Brolly

John Patrick Brolly, 89 years old, of West Chester, PA, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1936, John was the son of the late John and Alice (nee Devlin) Brolly. He grew up in the Mayfair neighborhood of Philadelphia with his four siblings. John’s father was an immigrant from Ireland and established Brolly’s Bar in Philly for all to enjoy a pint!

John proudly served in the United States Army, where he was stationed in Alaska and served in telecommunications. After leaving the Army, he worked as a computer salesman for the Burroughs Corporation, later changing to a career in real estate for Abbolone & Scullin Realty in Philadelphia.

John met the love of his life, Marge, at a local dance hall, which led them to jitterbug their way into 64 years of marriage and 5 daughters (there's a special place in heaven for a Dad of five girls!). Their love was rare, truly one-of-kind and such a wonderful living example for their girls. John and Marge raised their family in Northeast Philadelphia where for many years they were members of St. Martha’s parish. John was a kind and genuine man, and a humble servant of our Lord. He was led through life by an incredibly strong faith that inspires and brings comfort to his family. John was a loving and devoted father, always putting his wife and daughters first. Together they raised their girls to be independent women who share their faithfulness and love of family. To his daughters, John was Superman, and he had the glasses and the shirt to prove it!

John was a proud Irishman, even bottling his own "Brolly's Irish Cream" every Christmas. You were indeed lucky if you were on his receiving list, which grew with each year. He poured so much love into each bottle, making them one-at-a-time. The tradition will continue, as John passed down his treasured recipe to his girls. He was an avid Philly sports fan who enjoyed watching the Phillies and Eagles. Although rather reserved, one could hear John cheering and yelling from the other room when the games were on. He had a great sense of humor and a generous spirit. John's friends could always count on him for a game of cards, to share a story or to raise a pint.

John loved the water - so much so that his favorite song was Splish Spash! He was a lifeguard, swam competitively for St. Joseph's Prep, La Salle College and the US Army, and coached St. Martha’s CYO swim team for 10 years. He enjoyed boating, fishing, and visiting local breweries with his fun-loving daughter-in-law and son-in-laws.

After retirement, John and Marge moved to West Chester, PA to be near their 11 grandchildren. John loved cheering them on in sports, watching their performances, and spending time with them at the pool. His specialty was making Pop Pop’s fabulous pancakes! John enjoyed traveling with Marge and vacationing with his family at the Jersey shore and the Outer Banks. They were also snowbirds for 8 years, living it up at The Villages in Florida. He also enjoyed scenic drives through the rolling hills of Chester County. One of his favorite places was Marsh Creek State Park where many family memories were made. Fortunately, he was able to revisit his favorite place many times over this past year reminiscing about all the great times. John’s greatest legacies are his gifts of faith and family.

John leaves behind his beloved wife Margaret “Marge" (nee Dooley) Brolly; his loving daughters Maureen Brolly (Kathy), Christine Carney, Diane Jones (Jim), Mary Beth Colgan (Christopher), and Megan Lange (Keith); his loving and adored grandchildren Sean, Tim, Mark, Julie, Steven, Lindsay, Ally, Colin, Bridget, Johnny, and Jack; and his devoted sister, Sr. George Mary Brolly, IHM. John was predeceased by his siblings Hugh Brolly, Jim Brolly, and Alice Crowner; and is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation 5:00-7:00 PM Sunday, March 16, 2025 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-431-9000, and 10:00-11:00 AM Monday, March 17, 2025 at SS Peter & Paul Church, 1325 Boot Road, West Chester, PA 19380, followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment St. Agnes Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675, would be appreciated.