Margaret M. O’Connor, 50, long time Worcester resident passed away unexpectedly on Friday, November 2, 2018.
Margaret was born in Worcester, the youngest of six children of James and Grace (Strozina) O’Connor. In 1986, she graduated from South High and in 1991 graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the former Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth).
Beginning in elementary school, Margaret excelled in biology and the sciences, so a career in Nursing was a natural fit. Following graduation from college, she joined UMass Medical Center, and this year celebrated her 27th anniversary at their University campus. Most of her time had been dedicated to caring for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Margaret found nursing to be extremely rewarding, and she enjoyed training new nurses and working with her ICU colleagues and friends.
Margaret also devoted much of her time, love, and energy to her family. She is survived by her partner of 20 years, Lee Cloud, and four siblings Daniel and his girlfriend Sandra Mahan, Donald and his wife Sandra Eaton, Kathleen O’Connor-West and her husband Frank, Paul, and her sister-in-law Martha. Her oldest brother, James O’Connor Jr., died in 2014 followed by his wife, Wendy, in 2016. She is predeceased by her parents as well.
Margaret also is survived by her three nephews, Patrick and his wife Maylen, Ryan, and Zachary; five nieces Patricia Vaillancourt and her husband Brandon, Cassandra, Alexandra, Kaitlyn, and Heidi; several aunts and numerous cousins.
Margaret had a lifelong love of music and singing. In college, she took voice lessons and appeared in numerous theater productions. She enjoyed attending musicals whenever and wherever the opportunity arose. She loved spending time at the seashore, especially Hampton Beach and Cape Cod, shopping, karaoke, and occasionally trying her luck on the slot machines at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.
Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours on Wednesday, the 7th from 4:00pm until 7:00 PM in O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Ave, Worcester. Margaret’s funeral will be held Thursday, the 8th from the funeral home with a procession to Christ the King Church, 1052 Pleasant Street, where her Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Worcester. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Margaret’s and her mother Grace’s names to Notre Dame Health Care’s Educational Bridge Center, 555 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605.