In Memory of

William

"Bill"

O'Connor

Obituary for William "Bill" O'Connor

William “Bill” O’Connor, 91, of West Hartford, formerly of Hartford, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, peacefully passed away Sunday, November 8, 2015. Bill was the beloved and devoted husband of 64 years to Peggy (O’Connor) O’Connor. He was born, August 31, 1924 and raised in the village of Castletownroche, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, one of three children to the late John and Hannah (Murphy) O’Connor. Bill left Ireland in May of 1948, where he went to England for four months then immigrated to the United States on October 4, 1948 aboard the RMS Mauretania. He resided in Hartford, moving to West Hartford in 2000 until present. Prior to his leaving Ireland Bill was employed at the Grain Mill in Castletownroche, a job he was very proud to have had. He continued his career in America as a devoted employee, first at the Underwood Factory, where he started as a tractor trailer driver, then a carpenter, working his way up to Foreman. He then went on to work for Connecticut Mutual as a Manager of Building Services prior to his retirement. Bill found amusement in telling the story of how he came to America and within 90 days of being here was drafted into the US Army. He was a communicant of St. Peter Claver Church in West Hartford along with being a proud member of the Irish-American Home, the Ancient Order of Hibernian’s, as well as being the 1994 Grand Marshal of the Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade. What made Bill the most proud was that of being a devoted family man. In addition to his loving wife Peggy, Bill will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his loving family; two sons, William “Billy” O’Connor and his wife Mame, of Branford, Kevin O’Connor of Glastonbury; three daughters and their spouses, Mary and Johnny Sawicki, Kathy and Gary Wentworth, all of Windsor Locks, Laura and Paddy Sullivan of West Hartford; a sister, Mary Kate O’Connor, of West Hartford; as well as ten adored grandchildren, Denise, Dawn, Christopher, Ryan, Sean, Ashley, Natalie, Lorette, Kyle, and Bill; eight cherished great grandchildren, John Michael, Joseph, Gracie, Michael, Marie, Kingsley, Thomas, and Maggie. In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by his brother Peter O’Connor and a grandson Michael. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Bill’s life will be held Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at 10am in St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant St., West Hartford, (attendees are asked to go directly to the church). Interment will follow the Mass in Fairview Cemetery (Section 8), 200 Whitman Ave., West Hartford (directly across from the church). There are no calling hours. To extend online condolences and/or share a memory, please visit farleysullivan.com.