Marion (Ciraulo) O’Connor, 93, died Friday, October 1, 2010 in Miami. She was born November 9, 1916 in Elgin. She was a life long resident of Elgin and Huntley and a winter resident of Naples. In July, 2010 she moved to Hollywood, FL.
Marion was a graduate of St. Mary Elementary and Elgin High. Marion, with her husband and in-laws, operated the O’Connor Funeral Home in Elgin from 1940-84. She worked for the Elgin Watch Company and the Elgiloy Corporation. She was also employed at Joseph Spiess Department Store and Collingbourne Mills as a bookkeeper and model for their fashion catalogues in the 1930’s.
She will be remembered for her selflessness, independence, and genuine frankness all enhanced by wit and sense of humor. These qualities came through in golf and tennis, expertise at card games and rummikub, adeptness at hosting parties and the chocolate chip cookies that delighted three generations of her offspring. She was a founding member of the St. Joseph Junior Hospital League, Nouveau Speculators and the Elgin Golferettes.
She is survived by three sons, Barrett (Darlene) O’Connor, Kevin, and Kerry (Linda). Also surviving are her seven grandchildren: Kelly (Larry) Lebedun, Sean (Amy) O’Connor, Erin (David) Madden, Brian
O’Connor, Keli (Jason) Nitschke, Nicholas O’Connor and Mark O’Connor and 15 great grandchildren, Jackson, Delaney, Riley, Spencer, Jordyn, Abby, Sarah, David, Madison, Hannah, McKenzie, Sydney, Kate, Violet and Jack. Also surviving are her sister JoJean (Malbert) Middlesworth, her caregiver Amy Sakhiya, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mathilda Ciraulo, her husband William, sister Margaret Becklinger and her Division St. family, Lawrence and Mildred O’Connor, Kathleen Martino and Sharon Safar.
Friends and family are invited to visitation at the O’Connor-Leetz Funeral Home, 364 Division St. in Elgin on Friday, October 8 from 4-8 PM, with a prayer service at 8 PM, and Saturday, October 9 from
8:30-9:15 AM at the St. Mary’s Binsfeld Hall in Elgin. This will be followed by the celebration of the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9:30 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church where Marion was baptized in 1916 and married in 1939. Burial will follow the service at Mount Hope Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Marion’s name can be made to Fox Valley Hospice or St. Edward High School Foundation.
For more information, please call (847) 741-1400.
1. Kelly and Kirstin Wessel:
october 7th, 2010 at: 8:33 pm
to kevin,
thinking of you and your family.
kelly and kirstin wessel
2. Paul & Ellen Weidner:
october 8th, 2010 at: 2:38 am
please accept our sympathy on the passing of your mother. may wonderful memories of her abide with all of you
3. Kathy Gorenz:
october 8th, 2010 at: 6:37 am
kerry and family,
sorry to read about your mother, i am thinking of you and yours.
kathy from the 70s free press. (burlington)
4. Carol and Dick Larue:
october 8th, 2010 at: 7:18 pm
learning of your mother’s passing brings back many wonderful golf memories. we enjoyed her so much. she was a great gal.
5. Pat O’connor:
october 8th, 2010 at: 8:19 pm
to barrett, kevin, and kerry,
just remembering the good times i shared with marion and bill. the fun we had playing tennis and golf together. st. joseph junior hospital league annual fashion show and the good friends we shared. the free meals up on the third floor. the good times enjoyed by all at “the barn”.
marion and bill’s legacy lives on in their wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren. may god welcome marion into his waiting arms.
ps. marion, say “hi” to bill, cecil, lillian, lawrence, mildred, sharon, and kathleen for me.
6. Tim Gallagher:
october 8th, 2010 at: 11:54 pm
kerry and kevin,
hope you are doing well, your mother was a classy lady and a great person.
what a wonderful life she lived.
best regards,
tim