Conor J. Newell

Age 22. Beloved son of Seán and Jenny Newell. Loving brother of Hannah (Mo) Knio, Ryan (Emily Bustamante) Newell and Patrick Newell. Dear grandson of Nancy (late John) Newell and Dennis (Charlene) Ervin. Uncle of Mila Rose Knio. Nephew to his godparents, many loving aunts and uncles and dear cousin to the Ervin, Craig, Randlett, O’Connell, Murray and Newell families.

Conor’s early childhood was in Dearborn, Michigan where he attended Divine Child Elementary school and played sports in the Allen Park Hockey Association and the Detroit Harps Youth Gaelic Football organization. In 3rd Grade, he and his family moved to Nanjing, China for his father’s work. There he attended Nanjing International School, meeting new friends in China and from all over the world. He was involved in theatre at NIS and starred in several school productions. Conor enjoyed playing volleyball, badminton, rugby, basketball and even found an ice hockey team in Shanghai (4 hours away) that “adopted” Conor to play tournaments in Hong Kong against teams across Asia. Conor and his family took many opportunities to travel within China, Ireland, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Australia and Africa. After almost 8 years abroad, Conor was quite skilled in Mandarin, even attending Sunday Mass in Chinese at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Nanjing. In 2019, Conor and his family moved back to the US.

Conor returned to Divine Child for his junior and senior years of high school. There he played football, basketball, and track. Conor and his brothers, Ryan and Patrick, rekindled their love of GAA and began playing for the Detroit Wolfetones Gaelic Football Club, forging unforgettable bonds and sharing many a celebratory pint with teammates, including his cherished cousins. Conor attended Michigan State University, graduating in three years with a perfect 4.0 GPA in Supply Chain Management and a minor in Chinese. He and his wonderful group of friends at MSU/DC made countless cherished memories, filled with an uncountable number of laughs, inside jokes, and lasting stories that speak to the deep connections they shared.

Taking full advantage of finishing university early, Conor decided to embark on a thrilling journey to Valencia, Spain, in 2024. There, he dove headfirst into an intensive three-month Spanish training program, passionately expanding his love of languages and immersing himself in yet another new culture. His wanderlust was truly remarkable; by the age of 22, Conor had already traveled to more than 22 countries, each trip a testament to his insatiable curiosity and adventurous spirit. Following his incredible travels, he moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, in March 2025, to begin his first professional job in supply chain risk management. True to his outgoing nature, he quickly found his footing, meeting several new friends through work, Spanish language groups, volleyball, and the vibrant Raleigh Irish community, always seeking out connections and new experiences.

Throughout the world, Conor connected with people through friendship, appreciation, and especially laughter. His infectious smile, adventurous spirit, and profound kindness left an indelible mark on everyone he met. Conor was a rare soul who embraced every moment, every culture, and every person with an open heart. He taught us the beauty of curiosity, the joy of genuine connection, and the strength of a loving family bond. Though taken from us too soon in a tragic car crash, the light he brought into our lives will continue to shine brightly, inspiring us to live with the same zest for life, compassion, and humor that defined our unforgettable Conor. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy of love, laughter, and global friendship will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him.

The family invites you to share photos or videos of your time with Conor via this private site QR code.

Visitation for Conor will be from 1:00pm - 8:00pm Thursday, October 2 with 6:30pm Rosary and Family Eulogy to follow at Weise Funeral Home, 7210 Park, Allen Park (313-382-1150).

Conor's Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00am Friday, October 3 (In state from 9:30am) at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 9000 Laurence (at Wick), Allen Park.

Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Irish Pallotine Missions.

For those of you unable to attend Conor's Mass in person, please join us via  LIVESTREAM