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| August 17, 2013. A year before she died. |
When I was a kid I loved going to grandma's house. She always had a cookie container full of oreos, fudge striped cookies, and fig newtons. Her fridge was stocked with 7-Up and Kit-Kats, and her freezer with premium french vanilla ice cream that we would always top with crushed walnuts and Hershey's syrup. She spoiled us rotten with her sweets, and with her love. My siblings and I loved spending the night at Grandma's house. She had cupboards stocked with books and puzzles, fun games and toys, old Barbies, art supplies, she had plenty to keep our restless young bodies occupied. Our favorite part of her house was the old laundry chute in Grandma's upstairs hallway. We loved throwing things down it, then rushing to the basement to retrieve our items, grandma tolerated that much better than I would have. But perhaps that's because when our trip was over we would always be sure to drop sweet I-love-you notes down there for her to find the next time she did laundry.
Grandma's house was the gathering place for our families. Every holiday we would meet at Grandma's home with my aunt her children. We got together there for every big holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. But it didn't stop there, we had cookouts during all the summer holidays from Mother's Day in May to Labor Day in August, every single holiday was celebrated with burgers at Grandma's house. Even Halloween was celebrated with trick-or-treating in her neighborhood. She lived across from a wonderful park that had the best merry-go-round. The kind that went crazy fast and flung you off if you didn't hold on tight enough, of course it was later removed since it was a safety hazard, but we sure loved it while it lasted. As we got older we loved riding our bikes or walking to Grandma's house. She always greeted us, and our friends, and welcomed us into her home with her Kit-Kat's and 7-Up. During the winter the city would flood a part of the park to become an ice skating rink, so that drew us to her neighborhood as well. When we would show up covered in snow she would open a can or chicken soup and make hot chocolate, and not the watery, powdered kind. She would heat milk on the stove and sweeten it with the chocolate syrup. She was a grandma all right, and the very best kind at that.
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| Christmas, 2008, at Aunt Karen's house |
How I loved my grandmother, I didn't realize until reflecting back on my experiences with her how lucky we were to grow up just a few blocks from her. She joined us for every baptism, birthday, and graduation. She loved us and supported us throughout our lives. Grandma always supported Grandpa in his religion even though he was Irish Catholic, so she was also very supportive of my mother when she joined the Mormon church. Though she wasn't interested in it herself, she accepted my mother's decision and welcomed the missionaries into her home. She loved her church, the Christian Temple Disciples of Christ. She invited us to join her for their Christmas Eve service every year. We loved going, but as Mormon kids, it was a very different experience to see men and women as deacons, to see their different communion, and to listen to the reverend. But at the end they would give us candles to light as we sang Silent Night, that was no doubt our favorite part. Not too often are children given open flames, so we loved that part best. One lesson that my grandmother passed to my mother who passed it to me and my siblings was that no matter how late you stay up on Saturday night, you still go to church on Sunday morning. Church was not optional and you did not get to skip it to sleep in, not ever. I hold to that standard and am teaching my children the same thing and I believe we are all better for it.
Grandma will be missed, make no mistake in that, but I know she is in a better place. I know she is happy to be with my grandpa again, and I know that I will see her again someday. Until that day, may she rest in peace and may our memories of her be those of happiness and joy.
Love you, Gram!
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| August 17, 2013 |
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Her Obituary from the Morning Journal in Lorain, Ohio
Betty Jane O'Connor
LORAIN – Betty Jane O'Connor, 93, (nee Cook) passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a series of several illnesses.
Mrs. O'Connor was born in Lorain on May 19, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Scott and Bertha Olive (nee Wolford) Cook.
She was a graduate of Lorain High School and a member of the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ in Lorain. She had worked as a receptionist at the former Central Trust Bank in Lorain but during WWII, she worked at US Steel. Mrs. O'Connor enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren, word search puzzles, reading daily devotionals and gardening.
She is survived by daughters, Linda (Kenneth) Bruderer of Lorain, Karen A (Brian) Stawicki of Amherst, grandchildren: David (Patricia) Bruderer, Keri (Tyler) Keith, Melissa (Curtis) Nielsen, Kathleen (Darin) Herzoff, Daniel (Jessica) Bruderer, Brian (Amber) Bowers, Steve (Ashley) Bowers, Victoria Stawicki, Sabrina Stawicki and Jacob Stawicki and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. O'Connor was preceded in death by her husband Edward M. "Bucky" O'Connor, a son Dennis E O'Connor, a sister Thelma Johannsen, brothers William Cook and Edward Paul Cook.
Friends may call on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. in the Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home For Funerals, 1124 W. 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.
Additionally, friends may call on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ, 940 W. 5th Street, Lorain with Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Donahue, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst township.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the , North Regional Office, 10501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2204 or Christian Temple General Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 840, Lorain, Ohio 44052.
Online condolences at www.boyercool.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/morningjournal/obituary.aspx?n=betty-jane-oconnor-cook&pid=172079580&fhid=3994#sthash.SXH3mnon.dpuf
LORAIN – Betty Jane O'Connor, 93, (nee Cook) passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a series of several illnesses.
Mrs. O'Connor was born in Lorain on May 19, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Scott and Bertha Olive (nee Wolford) Cook.
She was a graduate of Lorain High School and a member of the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ in Lorain. She had worked as a receptionist at the former Central Trust Bank in Lorain but during WWII, she worked at US Steel. Mrs. O'Connor enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren, word search puzzles, reading daily devotionals and gardening.
She is survived by daughters, Linda (Kenneth) Bruderer of Lorain, Karen A (Brian) Stawicki of Amherst, grandchildren: David (Patricia) Bruderer, Keri (Tyler) Keith, Melissa (Curtis) Nielsen, Kathleen (Darin) Herzoff, Daniel (Jessica) Bruderer, Brian (Amber) Bowers, Steve (Ashley) Bowers, Victoria Stawicki, Sabrina Stawicki and Jacob Stawicki and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. O'Connor was preceded in death by her husband Edward M. "Bucky" O'Connor, a son Dennis E O'Connor, a sister Thelma Johannsen, brothers William Cook and Edward Paul Cook.
Friends may call on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. in the Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home For Funerals, 1124 W. 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.
Additionally, friends may call on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ, 940 W. 5th Street, Lorain with Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Donahue, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst township.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the , North Regional Office, 10501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2204 or Christian Temple General Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 840, Lorain, Ohio 44052.
Online condolences at www.boyercool.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/morningjournal/obituary.aspx?n=betty-jane-oconnor-cook&pid=172079580&fhid=3994#sthash.SXH3mnon.dpuf
Betty Jane (Cook) O'Connor (1921 - 2014)
Betty Jane
O'ConnorLORAIN – Betty Jane O'Connor, 93, (nee Cook) passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a series of several illnesses.
Mrs. O'Connor was born in Lorain on May 19, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Scott and Bertha Olive (nee Wolford) Cook.
She was a graduate of Lorain High School and a member of the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ in Lorain. She had worked as a receptionist at the former Central Trust Bank in Lorain but during WWII, she worked at US Steel. Mrs. O'Connor enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren, word search puzzles, reading daily devotionals and gardening.
She is survived by daughters, Linda (Kenneth) Bruderer of Lorain, Karen A (Brian) Stawicki of Amherst, grandchildren: David (Patricia) Bruderer, Keri (Tyler) Keith, Melissa (Curtis) Nielsen, Kathleen (Darin) Herzoff, Daniel (Jessica) Bruderer, Brian (Amber) Bowers, Steve (Ashley) Bowers, Victoria Stawicki, Sabrina Stawicki and Jacob Stawicki and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. O'Connor was preceded in death by her husband Edward M. "Bucky" O'Connor, a son Dennis E O'Connor, a sister Thelma Johannsen, brothers William Cook and Edward Paul Cook.
Friends may call on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. in the Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home For Funerals, 1124 W. 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.
Additionally, friends may call on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ, 940 W. 5th Street, Lorain with Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Donahue, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst township.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, North Regional Office, 10501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2204 or Christian Temple General Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 840, Lorain, Ohio 44052.
Betty Jane O'Connor
LORAIN – Betty Jane O'Connor, 93, (nee Cook) passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a series of several illnesses.
Mrs. O'Connor was born in Lorain on May 19, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Scott and Bertha Olive (nee Wolford) Cook.
She was a graduate of Lorain High School and a member of the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ in Lorain. She had worked as a receptionist at the former Central Trust Bank in Lorain but during WWII, she worked at US Steel. Mrs. O'Connor enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren, word search puzzles, reading daily devotionals and gardening.
She is survived by daughters, Linda (Kenneth) Bruderer of Lorain, Karen A (Brian) Stawicki of Amherst, grandchildren: David (Patricia) Bruderer, Keri (Tyler) Keith, Melissa (Curtis) Nielsen, Kathleen (Darin) Herzoff, Daniel (Jessica) Bruderer, Brian (Amber) Bowers, Steve (Ashley) Bowers, Victoria Stawicki, Sabrina Stawicki and Jacob Stawicki and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. O'Connor was preceded in death by her husband Edward M. "Bucky" O'Connor, a son Dennis E O'Connor, a sister Thelma Johannsen, brothers William Cook and Edward Paul Cook.
Friends may call on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. in the Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home For Funerals, 1124 W. 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.
Additionally, friends may call on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ, 940 W. 5th Street, Lorain with Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Donahue, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst township.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the , North Regional Office, 10501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2204 or Christian Temple General Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 840, Lorain, Ohio 44052.
Online condolences at www.boyercool.com
LORAIN – Betty Jane O'Connor, 93, (nee Cook) passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a series of several illnesses.
Mrs. O'Connor was born in Lorain on May 19, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Scott and Bertha Olive (nee Wolford) Cook.
She was a graduate of Lorain High School and a member of the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ in Lorain. She had worked as a receptionist at the former Central Trust Bank in Lorain but during WWII, she worked at US Steel. Mrs. O'Connor enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren, word search puzzles, reading daily devotionals and gardening.
She is survived by daughters, Linda (Kenneth) Bruderer of Lorain, Karen A (Brian) Stawicki of Amherst, grandchildren: David (Patricia) Bruderer, Keri (Tyler) Keith, Melissa (Curtis) Nielsen, Kathleen (Darin) Herzoff, Daniel (Jessica) Bruderer, Brian (Amber) Bowers, Steve (Ashley) Bowers, Victoria Stawicki, Sabrina Stawicki and Jacob Stawicki and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. O'Connor was preceded in death by her husband Edward M. "Bucky" O'Connor, a son Dennis E O'Connor, a sister Thelma Johannsen, brothers William Cook and Edward Paul Cook.
Friends may call on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. in the Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home For Funerals, 1124 W. 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.
Additionally, friends may call on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ, 940 W. 5th Street, Lorain with Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Donahue, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst township.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the , North Regional Office, 10501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2204 or Christian Temple General Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 840, Lorain, Ohio 44052.
Online condolences at www.boyercool.com
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Published in The Morning Journal on Aug. 13, 2014
Betty Jane O'Connor
LORAIN – Betty Jane O'Connor, 93, (nee Cook) passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a series of several illnesses.
Mrs. O'Connor was born in Lorain on May 19, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Scott and Bertha Olive (nee Wolford) Cook.
She was a graduate of Lorain High School and a member of the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ in Lorain. She had worked as a receptionist at the former Central Trust Bank in Lorain but during WWII, she worked at US Steel. Mrs. O'Connor enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren, word search puzzles, reading daily devotionals and gardening.
She is survived by daughters, Linda (Kenneth) Bruderer of Lorain, Karen A (Brian) Stawicki of Amherst, grandchildren: David (Patricia) Bruderer, Keri (Tyler) Keith, Melissa (Curtis) Nielsen, Kathleen (Darin) Herzoff, Daniel (Jessica) Bruderer, Brian (Amber) Bowers, Steve (Ashley) Bowers, Victoria Stawicki, Sabrina Stawicki and Jacob Stawicki and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. O'Connor was preceded in death by her husband Edward M. "Bucky" O'Connor, a son Dennis E O'Connor, a sister Thelma Johannsen, brothers William Cook and Edward Paul Cook.
Friends may call on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. in the Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home For Funerals, 1124 W. 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.
Additionally, friends may call on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ, 940 W. 5th Street, Lorain with Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Donahue, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst township.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the , North Regional Office, 10501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2204 or Christian Temple General Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 840, Lorain, Ohio 44052.
Online condolences at www.boyercool.com
LORAIN – Betty Jane O'Connor, 93, (nee Cook) passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a series of several illnesses.
Mrs. O'Connor was born in Lorain on May 19, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Scott and Bertha Olive (nee Wolford) Cook.
She was a graduate of Lorain High School and a member of the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ in Lorain. She had worked as a receptionist at the former Central Trust Bank in Lorain but during WWII, she worked at US Steel. Mrs. O'Connor enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren, word search puzzles, reading daily devotionals and gardening.
She is survived by daughters, Linda (Kenneth) Bruderer of Lorain, Karen A (Brian) Stawicki of Amherst, grandchildren: David (Patricia) Bruderer, Keri (Tyler) Keith, Melissa (Curtis) Nielsen, Kathleen (Darin) Herzoff, Daniel (Jessica) Bruderer, Brian (Amber) Bowers, Steve (Ashley) Bowers, Victoria Stawicki, Sabrina Stawicki and Jacob Stawicki and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. O'Connor was preceded in death by her husband Edward M. "Bucky" O'Connor, a son Dennis E O'Connor, a sister Thelma Johannsen, brothers William Cook and Edward Paul Cook.
Friends may call on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. in the Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home For Funerals, 1124 W. 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.
Additionally, friends may call on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ, 940 W. 5th Street, Lorain with Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Donahue, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst township.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the , North Regional Office, 10501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2204 or Christian Temple General Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 840, Lorain, Ohio 44052.
Online condolences at www.boyercool.com
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Published in The Morning Journal on Aug. 13, 2014
Betty Jane O'Connor
LORAIN – Betty Jane O'Connor, 93, (nee Cook) passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a series of several illnesses.
Mrs. O'Connor was born in Lorain on May 19, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Scott and Bertha Olive (nee Wolford) Cook.
She was a graduate of Lorain High School and a member of the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ in Lorain. She had worked as a receptionist at the former Central Trust Bank in Lorain but during WWII, she worked at US Steel. Mrs. O'Connor enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren, word search puzzles, reading daily devotionals and gardening.
She is survived by daughters, Linda (Kenneth) Bruderer of Lorain, Karen A (Brian) Stawicki of Amherst, grandchildren: David (Patricia) Bruderer, Keri (Tyler) Keith, Melissa (Curtis) Nielsen, Kathleen (Darin) Herzoff, Daniel (Jessica) Bruderer, Brian (Amber) Bowers, Steve (Ashley) Bowers, Victoria Stawicki, Sabrina Stawicki and Jacob Stawicki and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. O'Connor was preceded in death by her husband Edward M. "Bucky" O'Connor, a son Dennis E O'Connor, a sister Thelma Johannsen, brothers William Cook and Edward Paul Cook.
Friends may call on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. in the Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home For Funerals, 1124 W. 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.
Additionally, friends may call on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ, 940 W. 5th Street, Lorain with Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Donahue, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst township.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the , North Regional Office, 10501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2204 or Christian Temple General Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 840, Lorain, Ohio 44052.
Online condolences at www.boyercool.com
LORAIN – Betty Jane O'Connor, 93, (nee Cook) passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a series of several illnesses.
Mrs. O'Connor was born in Lorain on May 19, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Scott and Bertha Olive (nee Wolford) Cook.
She was a graduate of Lorain High School and a member of the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ in Lorain. She had worked as a receptionist at the former Central Trust Bank in Lorain but during WWII, she worked at US Steel. Mrs. O'Connor enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren, word search puzzles, reading daily devotionals and gardening.
She is survived by daughters, Linda (Kenneth) Bruderer of Lorain, Karen A (Brian) Stawicki of Amherst, grandchildren: David (Patricia) Bruderer, Keri (Tyler) Keith, Melissa (Curtis) Nielsen, Kathleen (Darin) Herzoff, Daniel (Jessica) Bruderer, Brian (Amber) Bowers, Steve (Ashley) Bowers, Victoria Stawicki, Sabrina Stawicki and Jacob Stawicki and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. O'Connor was preceded in death by her husband Edward M. "Bucky" O'Connor, a son Dennis E O'Connor, a sister Thelma Johannsen, brothers William Cook and Edward Paul Cook.
Friends may call on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. in the Schwartz, Spence, Boyer & Cool Home For Funerals, 1124 W. 5th Street, Lorain, Ohio.
Additionally, friends may call on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Temple-Disciples of Christ, 940 W. 5th Street, Lorain with Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Donahue, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst township.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the , North Regional Office, 10501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2204 or Christian Temple General Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 840, Lorain, Ohio 44052.
Online condolences at www.boyercool.com
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Published in The Morning Journal on Aug. 13, 2014
1 comment:
Oh Kate thank you for that wonderful tribute. Love your memories. Don't appreciate the tears tho. I'm so glad your kids got to know her too. She was a great lady and I too will miss her but am glad she is with Gpa and Den. These last months where pretty tough on her but she never complained. So glad she didn't have to linger any longer in that state. She was ready to go and I'm sure there was a joyful reunion in Heaven.
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