John D. O’Connor passed away on March 2, 2015 at the age of 88 years. He was the loving son of Jeremiah and Annie (Murray) O’Connor. John was a World War II U.S. Army veteran who served in the Phillipines as a radiology tech and was a chaplain’s assistant to the priests who ministered to the leper colony there. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and Philippines Independence Medal.
Mr. O’Connor graduated from Holy Family High School and Providence College with a degree in chemistry. He worked for major chemical companies, taught chemistry at New Bedford Vocational High School and was a paint chemist for Acushnet Company for 30 years.
John enjoyed saltwater fishing, ballroom dancing, golf, oil painting, science and spending time with his family. For the past twenty years, he attended daily Mass. His Catholic faith was very important to him. He was a humble, good man with a wonderful sense of humor. Uncle John was loved and he will be missed.
He was a communicant of St. Julie Billiart Church.
John was predeceased by his sister, Katherine Whitehead and brothers James and Jeremiah O’Connor.
He is survived by his nieces and nephews and their spouses: Paul and Suzanne Whitehead, Joan and David Pepin, James and Joanne Whitehead, James and Donna O’Connor, Thomas and Carol O’Connor, Robert and Kim O’Connor, Jack and Kerry O’Connor, Mary Jane and Mike Pecze, Patricia and David Riley , Maureen and Kent Robertson, Jeremiah and Dominique O’Connor, Daniel and Christine O’Connor, Michael and Michelle O’Connor, Anne and Greg Nipper; sisters-in-law Theresa O’Connor and Anne O’Connor of Vero Beach, FL and many great and great-great nieces and nephews .
The family wishes to thank the staff at New Bedford Healthcare Center and Charlton Hospital.
His Funeral will be held on Monday, March 9th at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Mass in St. Julie Billiart Church at 10 AM. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours Sunday, March 8th from 5-8 PM.