Joan Veronica O’Connor

08/24/1932

03/26/2022

Memorial Contributions

 Van Andel Institute

https://give.vai.org/page/39680/donate/1

or a check to:

Van Andel Institute

333 Bostwick Ave. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Attn: Joan O’Connor Memorial Fund

Joan Veronica Teeley O’Connor died peacefully in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on March 26, 2022, at the age of 89. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at eleven o’clock, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at St. Robert of Newminster in Ada, Michigan, with Reverend Tony Russo officiating. Visiting hours will be observed before the Mass from ten until eleven o’clock at the church. A private internment service will be held on April 4, 2022, at noon, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Memorial Garden in Naples, Florida.

A Michigan native, Joan was born on August 24, 1932, in Detroit. On July 18, 1953, Joan married her high school sweetheart, Albert O’Connor, and they were together for 62 happy years. They raised their five children in Westland and Livonia, Michigan, and retired to Bonita Springs, Florida, in 1992. She graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a Bachelor of Arts in education and received a Master of Arts from Eastern Michigan University. Joan found great joy in teaching and spent almost 20 years working in elementary education in the Wayne-Westland School District. A devout Roman Catholic, Joan possessed a steadfast religious faith that sustained her throughout her life. An ardent fan of bridge, golf, jigsaw puzzles, historical fiction, family cruises, summers at her cottage, and chardonnay with ice, Joan will also be remembered for faithfully following rules

Devoted to her family, Joan is survived by three children; David Alan O’Connor (Charlotte), of Dexter, Michigan, Karen Marie O’Connor Ross (Thomas) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Kevin Joseph O’Connor (Laura) of Santa Barbara, California; daughter-in-law Sherry O’Connor of Traverse City, Michigan; nineteen grandchildren, Christopher O’Connor, Lesley Suchla (Billy), Meaghan O’Connor, Matthew O’Connor, Sean O’Connor, Mark Jones, Lauren O’Connor, Hillary  Orlewicz (Jordan), T.J. Ross, Brendan Ross, Connor Ross, Cullen Ross, Cormac O’Connor, Kian O’Connor, Maeve O’Connor, Aileen Carroll, Colleen Carroll, James Carroll, and Liam Carroll; five great-grandchildren, Kate Keller (Nick), Logan Suchla, Dakota Suchla, Peyton Suchla, and Eliza Orlewicz.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Esther and Andrew Teeley of Detroit; her husband, Albert Thomas O’Connor; her husband’s parents, Genevieve and John O’Connor of Detroit; her brothers, John Teeley and Andrew Teeley; her sister Veronica Teeley; her sister Mary Cecilia Teeley Kiers and her husband, Edward Kiers, of Harper Woods; two children, Michael Thomas O’Connor of Traverse City, and his wife Margaret O’Connor, and Kathleen O’Connor Carroll and her husband, James Carroll, of Naples, Florida.

The family would like to extend its deepest gratitude and sincere appreciation to the staff of Provision Living of Forest Hills in Grand Rapidshttps://give.vai.org/page/39680/donate/1, Michigan, for their excellent care and numerous kindnesses to Joan while she was living there.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a memorial contribution to the Van Andel Institute to fund biomedical research into Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases https://give.vai.org/page/39680/donate/1  or a check to:

Van Andel Institute

333 Bostwick Ave. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Attn: Joan O’Connor Memorial Fund

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4 Responses

  1. Dear Karen, David and Kevin. I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. Thankfully she past away in peace and hopefully without pain. We all had some good times. Traverse City, skiing and not to forget at the cabin. We All remembered playing “sardines in the can. Your Mom and Don were always ready for a silly game. There are so many memories., not just Joan and Al also of you children. Don’t be sad, I know your Mother wouldn’t want that. Take care of each other and love each other. Herti and Don

  2. “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” ~ St. Francis Of Assisi. You were always the heart and light of the family. Your light shines bright. Love Jordan aka Hugo

  3. Oh how she loved her Root Beer and FULL glass of ice !!!
    Her Spirit and Spunk will be missed In the dining room at Provision Living at Forest Hills.
    She was constantly on the move in the halls of PVL
    She enjoyed her salon days and would smile ear to ear when complimented on how nice her hair looked❣️
    May your glass of ice always be full and you hair always done!!!
    Rest in eternal peace
    Executive Chef Tim England‍

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