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February 17, 2010
Services
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 9:30 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Tuesday from 2-4, 7-9 PM.
Mary Patricia O’Connor (nee Slacke) age 68 of Fort Lauderdale, Florida formerly of Wayne passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. Her passing took place suddenly and unexpectedly at home with her loving husband at her side. It is indeed ironic that the day of her funeral is her birthday, when she will be celebrating her arrival in heaven.
She was born in Brooklyn, New York where she lived her formative years. Mary received her formal education at Saint Brendan’s Grammar School and then Saint Brendan’s High School in Brooklyn, graduating with the Class of 1959. She moved to the Packanack Lake community on August 8, 1974, and lived there before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2000.
Her heritage was Irish, and she was proud of it! As she traveled life’s byways, a wonderful and loving Irish spirit accompanied her life.
Mary was dedicated to her Catholic faith and was a parishioner of Saint Brendan’s RC Church in Brooklyn, and while living in Wayne, Immaculate Heart of Mary RC was her parish. She especially admired Saint Jude.
She enjoyed hobbies of sewing clothes for her children and grandchildren. She even made her daughter’s wedding dress by hand. Mary also loved to read novels and was the number one Giants football fan.
She was gifted with a vibrant and energetic personality coupled with a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious laugh. When she entered a room, she exuded warmth and friendliness; and as a result she had a host of friends wherever she went.
Mary had a very special song in her heart of motherly comfort, happiness, and being. She made life very special for her children and grandchildren. Mary will be a never-ending song of love in the hearts of her children. She was truly special and knew well, in her life practices, that love is not to keep or hold but to pass on. She was a wonderful mother.
She also loved to enjoy life celebrations with her family gathered around her. She was a very good cook and often used those talents to gather her family. She had a very special and memorable recipe that everyone enjoyed called “Peking Duck”.
Mary met a handsome fellow in high school named Jim O’Connor and they became high school sweethearts and never parted. They knew from the beginning that they were made for each other. They eloped and married on February 22, 1959, and had fifty-one years of a romantic – “two peas in a pod” – marriage together.
Mary leaves, to mourn in her passing and cherish her loving memory, her husband Jim; five children Jimmy O’Connor Jr. of Washington, DC; four daughters Maureen Cretella and her husband Joe, Patricia Szlembarski, Irene Yalicki and her husband Steve all of Wayne, and Colleen Youngman of Kingston, New York; one sister Nancy Bianchi and her husband Ron of Avon, Connecticut; one brother James Slacke of Melbourne, Florida; eight grandchildren who called her “Manna:” Annie, Amanda, Amy and Joey Cretella; John, James and Kelly Youngman; James O’Connor III, and two cherished Great Grandchildren Robert and Connor Titus.
She was predeceased by her son-in-law Bob Szlembarski in February of 2001.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Mary’s memory are asked to consider The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation, Gift Processing Administration, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 9:30 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Tuesday from 2-4, 7-9 PM.
February 17, 2010
Services
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 9:30 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Tuesday from 2-4, 7-9 PM.
Mary Patricia O’Connor (nee Slacke) age 68 of Fort Lauderdale, Florida formerly of Wayne passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. Her passing took place suddenly and unexpectedly at home with her loving husband at her side. It is indeed ironic that the day of her funeral is her birthday, when she will be celebrating her arrival in heaven.
She was born in Brooklyn, New York where she lived her formative years. Mary received her formal education at Saint Brendan’s Grammar School and then Saint Brendan’s High School in Brooklyn, graduating with the Class of 1959. She moved to the Packanack Lake community on August 8, 1974, and lived there before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2000.
Her heritage was Irish, and she was proud of it! As she traveled life’s byways, a wonderful and loving Irish spirit accompanied her life.
Mary was dedicated to her Catholic faith and was a parishioner of Saint Brendan’s RC Church in Brooklyn, and while living in Wayne, Immaculate Heart of Mary RC was her parish. She especially admired Saint Jude.
She enjoyed hobbies of sewing clothes for her children and grandchildren. She even made her daughter’s wedding dress by hand. Mary also loved to read novels and was the number one Giants football fan.
She was gifted with a vibrant and energetic personality coupled with a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious laugh. When she entered a room, she exuded warmth and friendliness; and as a result she had a host of friends wherever she went.
Mary had a very special song in her heart of motherly comfort, happiness, and being. She made life very special for her children and grandchildren. Mary will be a never-ending song of love in the hearts of her children. She was truly special and knew well, in her life practices, that love is not to keep or hold but to pass on. She was a wonderful mother.
She also loved to enjoy life celebrations with her family gathered around her. She was a very good cook and often used those talents to gather her family. She had a very special and memorable recipe that everyone enjoyed called “Peking Duck”.
Mary met a handsome fellow in high school named Jim O’Connor and they became high school sweethearts and never parted. They knew from the beginning that they were made for each other. They eloped and married on February 22, 1959, and had fifty-one years of a romantic – “two peas in a pod” – marriage together.
Mary leaves, to mourn in her passing and cherish her loving memory, her husband Jim; five children Jimmy O’Connor Jr. of Washington, DC; four daughters Maureen Cretella and her husband Joe, Patricia Szlembarski, Irene Yalicki and her husband Steve all of Wayne, and Colleen Youngman of Kingston, New York; one sister Nancy Bianchi and her husband Ron of Avon, Connecticut; one brother James Slacke of Melbourne, Florida; eight grandchildren who called her “Manna:” Annie, Amanda, Amy and Joey Cretella; John, James and Kelly Youngman; James O’Connor III, and two cherished Great Grandchildren Robert and Connor Titus.
She was predeceased by her son-in-law Bob Szlembarski in February of 2001.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Mary’s memory are asked to consider The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation, Gift Processing Administration, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172.
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