HAMPTON, NH – John J. O’Connor, 83, of Hampton, New Hampshire and a former longtime resident of Home Street in the Hungry Hill section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Friday, January 30, 2015. He passed into Eternal Life from his home in Hampton, NH surrounded by all the memories he loved and cherished. He was born in Springfield on September 28, 1931, a beloved son of the late John J. and Ann (Cavanaugh) O’Connor who were both born in County Kerry, Ireland. He was raised in Springfield, graduated from Sacred Heart Elementary School and Cathedral High School and lived in Springfield until 2010 when he moved to Hampton, New Hampshire. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War, attained the rank of Builder Constructionman and received the National Defense Service Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Springfield and was employed for many years at the former Cheeney-Bigelow Company in Springfield. He was last employed as a Water Treatment Operator at the Westfield Plant for the City of Springfield Water and Sewer Department and retired in 2002. During his younger years, he enjoyed playing softball with many of the local leagues. He was a communicant of the former Our Lady of Hope Church in Springfield. John was a quiet man who enjoyed the simple things in life. Most of all, he was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and brother to his family. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and best friend of 35 years, Barbara E. (Papageorge) O’Connor who was Called Home on August 31, 1993. He leaves his two loving children, Catherine A. Pinto and her husband, David, of Hampton, NH with whom he lived, and Christopher S. O’Connor and his wife, Heidi, of Longmeadow; his five cherished grandchildren whom he adored, Samuel Lieber and his fiancée, Carly Doyle, Benjamin Lieber, and Lily, Grace and Jane O’Connor; his loving sister, Maureen Sweetman of Holyoke; his cherished niece and goddaughter, Ann T. DeMaio and her husband, Al, of Holyoke; his cherished grandniece, Kristen Warwick of Holyoke; and his many friends and extended members of the O’Connor and Papageorge families. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his dear brother and sister-in-law, Edward O’Connor and his wife, Ann; his dear brother-in-law, Lawrence Sweetman; and his dear sister-in-law, Carleen M. Papageorge with whom he lived with for many years and who was Called Home on January 22, 2010. His funeral will be held on Friday morning, February 6, 2015 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. His burial with US Navy Military Honors will follow the Mass at Oak Grove Cemetery, 426 Bay Street, Springfield, MA 01109. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, February 5, 2015 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Holyoke Soldiers Home, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com