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Mary O'Connor Obituary

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Mary O'Connor

Portland, MI

April 13, 1921 - June 9, 2006

Mary O'Connor Obituary

Ionia, Mi. Mary V. O’Connor (Westorp), age 85, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2006 attended by her family. With the faith she held so strongly and taught and shared with us daily, we know she now re-joined with John, her beloved husband of 56 years and JoEllen, her youngest daughter. Mary was born April 13, 1921 to Albert and Elsie (VanderLaan) Westorp of Wyoming, MI. She attended Holy Name Catholic School and Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids. A gifted pianist and organist, Mary served as accompanist for many school programs and as organist for Masses and weddings at Holy Name Church and at St. Andrew Cathedral. Upon graduation from Catholic Central in 1939, Mary attended Aquinas College for two years, transferring to Western Michigan Teachers College (now Western Michigan University). She graduated from Western in 1943, receiving her B.A. Degree and Permanent Teaching Certificate. Mary taught music in the Covert, MI schools for the next four years, and has always carried the fondest of memories from that experience. On July 12, 1947 Mary wed John P. O’Connor of Ionia at Holy Name Catholic Church. They made their home next door to O’Connor’s Grocery in Ionia, the family business assumed by John from his parents the previous year. While John operated the store, Mary provided piano lessons in her home, a true vocation from which she never retired. She instilled in her many students the gift of music and many of them have passed that love unto the next generation. As a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Ionia, Mary kept her hand in (and her eyes on) the “school scene” by substitute teaching and serving on the SS. Peter & Paul Board of Education as her growing family allowed. She also served on the Parish Council for many years. She was a member of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Rosary Circle, the Daughters of Isabella, the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary, the Ionia Women’s Literary Club, Ionia Area Youth Musicians and the Cart & Lobby Guild of the Ionia County Memorial Hospital. Mary was always completely devoted to her family – their health, growth, education and jobs, and there is no scale on which her contributions to them can be measured, especially, their faith, character and love for one another. She is survived by her children, Carol A. O’Connor of Clawson, Jean and Paul Baker of Ionia, Bob and Cindi O’Connor of Comstock Park, and Tom and Carol O'Connor of Orleans; grandchildren Suzanne and Kristine Barker of Madison Heights, Mike O’Connor of Comstock Park and Kevin and Tim O’Connor of Orleans, her brother-in-law Rex P. and Mary E. O’ Connor of Ionia, several nieces, nephews and cousins and many wonderful friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John, daughter JoEllen O’Connor, her brother Tom Westdorp, and sister-in-law Honora O’Connor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by Fr. Melvin Fox on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, located at 434 High Street, Ionia. There will be visitation at the Church at 10:00. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Ionia. Visitation will be Sunday 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Monday 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Scripture Service at 8:00 p.m. at the Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home, 220 Rich Street, Ionia. Memorial contributions may be made to the SS. Peter & Paul School, the Ionia County Memorial Hospital or the Lansing/Ionia Area Hospice. On-line condolences may be made at www.schraubenlehman.com.

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