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University of Notre Dame

FUNERAL HOME

Donohue Funeral Home - West Chester

1627 West Chester Pike

West Chester, Pennsylvania

Ryan O'Connor Obituary

September 12, 2004
Ryan S. O'Connor, 24, of West Chester, died Sunday at St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend, Ind.
Born April 1, 1980, in Chestnut Hill, he was a son of James and Mary (Reynolds) O'Connor. He was a lieutenant, junior grade, for the U.S. Navy. He was assigned to the USS Leyte Gulf where he was stationed in Norfolk, Va. He had just returned from deployment in Iraq. He graduated from Salesianum High School in 1998, and was a varsity cross country track and field runner. He attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated in 2002. He loved all sports. He especially loved playing football and other sports on the beach. He cherished the time he spent with his family and friends. He could never resist a good rumble with his dogs.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Patrick J. O'Connor.
Surviving are his sisters, Maureen O'Connor, Flannery O'Connor and Siobhan O'Connor; grandmother, Helen O'Connor; grandparents, Alice and Henry Reynolds; many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at SS. Simon & Jude Church, Route 3 at Route 532, West Chester. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, West Chester.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, Westtown, and from 9:45 a.m. until the time of service Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge Benefiting Cancer Research, c/o/ PMC/30903-1, 4th Avenue, Needham Heights, MA 02494.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Times Leader on Sep. 14, 2004.

Memories and Condolences
for Ryan O'Connor

17 Entries

Chris Morris

October 1, 2004

I had the honor of running with Ryan at Salesianum, I am heartbroken to hear of his passing. He was a good man and always had my respect. I am so sorry for your loss.

Cheri Wideman

October 1, 2004

To the entire O'Connor family, I am sorry to hear of your lost. We will be praying for you.

Grace Burns

September 27, 2004

To the O'Connor Family:

I taught Ryan in 7th grade at Sts. Simon and Jude. He was a joy in the classroom and I am saddend at his tragic death at such a young age. Please know that my family's prayers are with you and I will be having a mass said at Our Lady of Loudes Church in Phildelphia for the repose of his soul. May God bless you in this time of tremendous sorrow.

With sincere sympathy,

Grace Burns

7028 Woodbine Ave

Philadelphia, PA 19151

Tim, Tracie and Bailey O'Connor

September 15, 2004

Uncle Jimmy,Aunt Mary, Maureen,Flannery, and Siobhan,

I am so sorry for your loss. You are all in our prayers. We love you and hope that you find peace in the wonderful memories that you have of Ryan.

Tara Pellegrini-McNulty

September 15, 2004

Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor,

I was blessed to have had the opportunity to babysit Ryan, Maureen, Flannery and Siobhan for so many years. Know he is in heaven and at peace. Your are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

Kristen Fitzpatrick

September 15, 2004

To the O'Connor family,

I am deeply sorry for your loss. Please know that the thoughts and prayers of the entire ND family in the Philly area are with you. Ryan was a wonderful man and he will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.

Father Jim Lewis

September 15, 2004

The men of Carroll Hall at Notre Dame offer our prayerful support to the O'Connor family. You will remain in our hearts.

john and Deborah buley

September 14, 2004

Dear Jim, Mary and family:

We just heard of your loss from my sister Mary Mitchell, who is from the Parish. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

John, Deborah, John III and Thomas Buley

Brian, Jennifer and Logan Gray

September 14, 2004

To the O'Connor family,

We are deeply sorry for your loss. I worked with Ryan for 18 months on the Leyte Gulf and he truly is one of greatest friends a guy could ask for. Our prayers go out to you and your family.

Katie Ligibel

September 14, 2004

To the O'Connor Family,

I am so sorry for your loss. Ryan was a great friend always with a smile on his face. I hope that you know that many are thinking of you during this time, including all of his friends from Notre Dame. We will miss him.

Moira O'Connor Kotch

September 14, 2004

Dear Aunt Mary,Uncle Jim, Maureen,Flannery, and Siobhan,

I am so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you are going through. I try to think that Ryan was called for a reason and I try to take comfort that he is living on in others. Whenever I think of him, I see his Irish eyes smiling. We now have a new angel in heaven. God Bless you. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. Peace, Moira,Stephen, and Andrew

Joseph Vivone

September 14, 2004

Dear Jim and Family:

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to you all. My prayers are with you all.

Eileen

September 14, 2004

I am not anyone you would know but saw this handsome face in the paper and the fact that he just returned from Irac. I wanted to offer your family my deepest sympathy and thank you for having such a great son who put his life on the line for our country and protecting us all.

You must be so proud of him and I am sure the loss is great. May you feel his presence in your heart always.

God Bless

Wisam Hirzalla

September 14, 2004

To the O'Connor Family,

Words cannot express the sorrow I feel for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers

Patti Albright

September 14, 2004

Dear Jim, Mary & family:

God has his plan for all of us. Ryan was called home for reasons only he knows. You may not see Ryan physically here on earth, but you will feel his presence every day for the rest of your own life...remember, your relationship with Ryan has not ended, it has only changed. God Bless your family at this very trying time.

Sincerely,

robbin harris

September 14, 2004

Jim and family: I am so sorry to hear of your loss. We will keep your family in our praryers.

Jacquie

September 14, 2004

To Ryan's Family and Friends,

Words do not come easy at a time like this, I am so sorry about your loss. I wrote this poem when my neighbor Mark, also at the age of 24, passed away in May. I hope it brings you some comfort.

DON'T CRY FOR ME

Don’t cry for me because I am gone

Don’t cry for me because I went to a better place ;

For I am with you till your day is done

and my love will fill, in your hearts, the empty space;

Don’t cry for me, please dry those tears

Don’t cry for me, it will be okay;

For I was truly blessed having you in my life for 24 years

and I will be watching over and protecting all of you every day;

Don’t cry for me, I am not scared or alone;

Don’t cry for me, I have a new home that is filled with warmth and love;

I thank all of you for the love, during my years, you have shown;

and know that all of you have me, an angel, loving you from above;

So when you are feeling sad and start to cry because I am not there for you to see;

Please remember that I am with you always, in your heart, and how happy and at peace I will be if you, please

DON’T CRY FOR ME