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Katherine O'Connor Obituary
Katherine "Kay" Schlauder O'Connor, 83, of Stratford passed away suddenly, June 3, 2013 at Bridgeport Hospital.
She was born in Hamden, Connecticut, March 18, 1930 to Eugene and Katherine Donlan Schlauder. Katherine attended Spring Glenn Elementary School and graduated from Hamden High School. She was president of her class as well as Student Government Chair at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven where she graduated with honors in 1951. On July 7, 1951 she married George F. O'Connor of Waterbury whom she met while he was at Yale University.
She was the loving mother of Emily O'Connor Karolyi of Stratford, the late John O'Connor and his wife, Carolyn Mugar of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Jeff O'Connor and his wife, Amy of San Diego, California, the late Raymond O'Connor, the late Katherine (Katie) O'Connor and James O'Connor and his wife, Daria of Saugus, Massachusetts. Mrs. O'Connor was the beloved grandmother of Mary O'Connor, Lexy Karolyi, Kati Karolyi, Kaitlin Rae O'Connor, Emmie Karolyi, Jimmy O'Connor and Chloe Schweinschaut and her husband, Kyle; great-grandmother of Isabella, Oliver and Harper. She also leaves three nephews, Robert O'Connor, Jack O'Connor and George O'Connor and three nieces, Joan Kolski, Carol Morton and Christine Doolan.
Katherine raised her family in Stratford and has always been an active participant in community affairs, local politics, business, education and volunteer activities.
In 1958, Kay was president of the Stratford Jaycee Wives. She served as the assistant coach for the Stratford YMCA's swim team during the 1960's and, in the past, was also on multiple boards of organizations and associations within Stratford. These include: Stratford Library Board, Stratford Red Cross Board, Greater Bridgeport Board of Realtors, and the Stratford Beautification Committee, Goodwill of Southern Connecticut - Board of Directors, and Stratford BEST Committee (Business Education Support Team). Katherine was also a part of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, of which she was a board member and president (1991). Mrs. O'Connor was one of the founding members of the Perry House Foundation where she held the position of Chairman of the Board.
Katherine was the founder and owner of Katherine O'Connor Real Estate, Inc on Paradise Green in Stratford She was also a president of the Greater Bridgeport Board of REALTORS.
Friends are invited to attend the funeral on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 10 am at the Pistey Funeral Home, 2155 Main Street, Stratford and at 11 am at Our Lady of Peace Church with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow at Union Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 4 to 8 pm. Those who so desire may make contributions in her memory to either Perry House Foundation, 1128 W. Broad St., Stratford or American Heart Assoc., 5 Brookside Dr., Wallingford, CT 06492.
Please visit www.pisteyfuneralhome.com to leave condolences online.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Katherine O'Connor
June 10, 2013
Dear Emily and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time of bereavment. Your mother was a truly amazing person in manys ways large and small. She touched my life but for a moment, however,her kindness on my behalf mase a lifelong difference.Katherine O;Connor will continue to occupy a special place in your family's hearts and minds forever and in that way she will be with you always. Please convey my condolences to your father. May God bless you and your family and keep you close.
Donald Edward Smart
Troy Leong
June 7, 2013
To the O'Connor family....me and my mom we're both saddened by the loss of Kay. What a fine lady she was!!!! No matter what she wore she always looked stylish. Kay worked with our family business when she did the real estate work. We did estate Sales (Rust N Dust)....and she gave us quite a few houses to sell the contents of. She'll never be forgotten...and I know our Lord has reserved a special place in heaven for her....in a big mansion in the clouds. RIP Miss Kay and may God bless!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Troy
&
Dottie
Leong
Vincent Bevacqua
June 6, 2013
To George and the entire family of Katherine I wish to express my sympathy to you all. Sorry I was not able to attend the service but my thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless.
June 5, 2013
Dear George and family, Kay was a great lady. We always enjoyed her company. She will be missed. Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this most difficult time.
John & Marie Vitka
Deb Chaffee-Zemola
June 5, 2013
Emily and Family,
So sorry to hear of your loss. I have so many fond memories of Patterson Avenue parties and YMCA days. You are in my prayers.
American Heart Association
June 5, 2013
May your memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always.
Kimberly & Dave Meuse
June 4, 2013
Dear George, Emily and family, Dave and I loved Kay with all our hearts. She had such a special, lovely, gracious soul. Words can't express how sad we are today for your loss, and ours as well. She'll be dearly missed.
You are in our thoughts,
Kim and Dave Meuse
Kerry Rooney
June 4, 2013
Dear O'Conner Family,
I was so saddened to hear of Kay's Passing. She was by far the most Amazing,Beautiful,Strong,Gracious,Woman I have ever known! I was truly blessed to have known her!! Xo You are all in my Thoughts and Prayers! Much Love Kerry Rooney My Children(who Kay enjoyed)And My Mom Betty Rooney who enjoyed Kay and George So!! XoXOXO
Bukirch Family
June 4, 2013
Dear O'Connor family, I am so sorry for loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you all
June 4, 2013
To Kate's family- she was a wonderful and gracious woman - inspiring in her kindness, love of life and her resiliance and faith. Thank you for sharing times with her. May you take great solace in knowing how much joy and love you all gave to her, in the giving and the receiving.
Iris
Bonnie Stoll
June 4, 2013
Dear O'Connor family, My heartfelt condolences to your family on the loss of your wonderful mom. I remember her from the YMCA swim team and I was a fellow classmate of Ray and a friend of Jeff's. I am very sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
Bonnie & Tony Stoll
Frank Suponski
June 4, 2013
Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.
Dave & Carol Roche
June 4, 2013
A mother is she who can take the place of all others...but whose place no one else can take.God Bless the O'Connor family...and Godspeed Kay.
George French
June 4, 2013
Emily and O'Connor family:
I am saddened by hearing of the passing of your mother an amazeing women with a carizmic smile . I meet you and your mom wayback when at the YMCA she help me and showed me how too be competitive and too achieve achievment in things i do. I know the pain is great when you loose a loved one but her love is and always be in your hearts. God called her too help him . May she be at peace and god bless the time we had. My prayers and deepest sympathies to you Emily and your brothers. god bless
June 4, 2013
Dear George, Emily, Jeff and Jimmy and family, so sorry for the loss of Kay. She was an amazing inspiration for all of us. Despite the enormous losses she suffered in her own life, she persevered through it all with wisdom, grace and humor. My thoughts are with you.
Wilma Kennon
June 4, 2013
God Bless your family.
Richard Page
June 4, 2013
May you find strength and comfort in knowing you are being kept in the thoughts and prayers of friends and colleagues during this most difficult time. My deepest sympathies to the O'Connor family.
Morag
June 4, 2013
Kay was a special lady, always smiling and upbeat. We served together on the Goodwill Board where she was a welcome asset. I will miss her smile. We have lost a good friend.
Diana Schneider
June 4, 2013
Emily& Family :
So sorry for your Loss,my Friend,I know you are Hurting. once you love and take into Your heart they will live Forever. Our Mom's are there. In Spirit , never gone.Less we forget.-Love- Diana
Lois Bologna
June 4, 2013
I first met Kay when I got my real estate license and worked for Katherine O'Connor real estate. Kay taught me how to sell real estate. She literally took me by the hand and brought me all over town to meet people at the town hall, show me different neighborhoods, everything that would help me become successful. She was a wonderful, caring woman, loved real estate, loved the people and really just gave everything she did her all. I was lucky to have met and been able to work for such a great women. She will be missed.
patti saad
June 4, 2013
Dear O'Connor Family,
We are so sorry for the loss of your beloved Katherine. She was a wonderful woman whom we enjoyed working with while selling our home. She had a beautiful spirit and a wonderful sense of humor. May she rest in peace.
Fondly,
Phil & Patti Saad
Diane Lytwyn
June 4, 2013
I knew your Mom as "Mrs. O'Connor," and I well remember her sweet face, her kind demeanor, and her friendly attitude. Even as a school age child, I recall feeling so safe around her! On the rare occasions that I did attend a party or go over to your home on Patterson Avenue, I always felt to welcome! You, Emily, are really the image of your mother! I can see that you not only inherited her quick wit, charm and beauty, but also her wisdom. Please accept my sincere wishes for you to remain strong and, you really do keep the love with you. She is not gone, she is just away. God bless you and your family, Emily! Love, Diane Gorman Lytwyn
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