Mary Catherine O’Connor (nee Schneider) of Oxford PA, peacefully returned to the Father on July 23, 2017. Beloved wife of Harry J. O’Connor, devoted mother of Molly Elizabeth and Emily Rose. Loving daughter of Maryanne Havens Schneider and the late Frank Schneider. In addition to her husband and children Mary is survived by her sisters Ellen, Katie and Madeline Sands (Jim) her brother Fred (Maria), and her “sister from another mother”, Holly Saget, her mother-in law Margaret O’Connor, Sister–in Law of Margaret, Betty, Ann Block (Craig), Clare Block (Jeff), Paul and Stephen (Diana) O’Connor. Born in Northeast Philadelphia, June 6, 1955, Mary graduated from Bishop Conwell High School for Girls (Class of 1973). Mary was a member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill for 10 years and taught first grade in Philadelphia, Wilmington DE and Quakertown, PA. Mary and Harry celebrated 30 years of marriage on March 13, 2017. Her greatest accomplishment and lasting joy are her daughters Molly and Emily. With young children to raise at the time of her breast cancer diagnosis, Mary bargained with God and asked to live long enough to see her daughters graduate from high school. When she achieved her goal she said, “If I had known, I would have asked to live to see my great grandchildren!”
Mary worked for the Garnet Valley and Oxford Area School Districts as a Kindergarten Teacher Aide. Mary loved teaching children and was said to “give the best hugs ever”. Her personality naturally attracted others and she had an infectious sense of humor. If shopping were an Olympic sport, Mary would hold the record for most gold medals! She was always searching for “a deal”. With faith, grace and determination Mary faced the challenges of breast cancer for 16 years. The O’Connor/Schneider families are grateful to Susan Domchek M.D; Robin Hertzog CRNP, and the dedicated doctors and nurses of the Perlman Center at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital for their many years of devoted care to Mary. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Thursday evening, July 27 from 6pm until 8pm at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 86 Pine Street, Oxford PA and 10-10:45am Friday at the Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, 203 Church Road, Oxford PA on Friday, July 28th at 11am. The Rite of Committal will immediately follow the Mass at the Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Masses be offered for Mary. The family suggests that those wishing to make donations in Mary’s memory, consider LaSalle Academy, Attention Sr. Jeanne McGowan SSJ, 1434 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122 or to the Oxford Educational Foundation, PO Box 142, Oxford, PA 19363. On-line condolences may be made at HYPERLINK "http://www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com" \hwww.elcollinsfuneralhome.com. Comments are closed.
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