Linda Patrice O'Connor

Linda Patrice O’Connor was born in Downey, California on July 28, 1960. She was adopted by Warren and Gloria Heer at only a few days old. In 1963, her brother George was adopted and their family was complete.

Linda remained in Downey through high school and attended Rio Hondo Elementary, Griffiths Middle School, and Warren High School, graduating in 1978.

Linda’s family enjoyed traveling and they spent many Thanksgivings at Huntington Beach, ski trips to June Lake, and vacations at Newport Dunes in their family motor home. They often traveled all over the United States visiting friends and relatives. They also spent a month traveling in Europe, celebrating her 16th birthday in Switzerland.

Linda was a Girl Scout and a Job’s Daughter. When Linda was 16 years old, she got her first job at The Broadway Department Store at the Stonewood Mall. In high school, Linda joined a car club called Lil’ Rascals, where she first met her future boyfriend, Howard Phillips.

After high school, Linda moved to the Norco/Corona area and lived there for the next twenty years. She was a waitress for many years and then worked for a property management company handling rental agreements. She later worked in a law office serving subpoenas.

Linda moved to Mission Viejo in 1999 and lived within a few miles of her parents and her brother’s family. There were always lots of gatherings, celebrations, and holidays to enjoy together.

Linda attended Santa Ana College and received her AA degree in 2008. She then started working for the Santa Ana Superior Court. She loved her job as a Courtroom Assistant, working closely with her judge and bringing candy and treats to her jurors.

Linda reconnected with Howard seventeen years ago and they have been together ever since. They loved travelling together, were active with the Masons and Shriners, and enjoyed going to concerts. Linda treated Howard’s grandchildren as her own and loved making them feel special with individual weekends at her house.

Linda was very generous with her grandchildren, her great-niece, and her great-nephews. She loved shopping for clothes, and it made her happy to see the kids wearing the clothes she had picked for them. Linda bought countless diapers and even helped find formula at grocery stores when her niece was worried about the shortages. She dedicated her entire den to toys for all the kids to enjoy when they visited.

Linda loved baking and sharing what she made. She liked to make oversized muffins and bring them to work or to neighbors. At Christmastime, she made her famous White Trash- Chex mix, pretzels, marshmallows, M&M’s, and white chocolate all mixed together in a big white trash bag. Linda enjoyed making chocolate covered strawberries for gatherings and special events, such as her niece’s bridal shower.

After retirement, Linda found a passion for Tae Kwon Do. She went to class four nights a week, enjoyed challenging herself physically and mentally, and worked hard to advance through the belts. She was proud to earn her Black Belt on November 1, 2024. She made many friends in her classes and loved being part of that community.

Linda adopted her dog Wylie six years ago and he had a wonderful impact on her life. She walked him for miles every day, meeting neighbors and their dogs along the way. She started “Yappy Hour”, a get together on Thursday afternoons with neighbors and their dogs. They initially met at her house, but over time they met outdoors because it grew to include so many dogs and people attending.

Linda was a sister, girlfriend, aunt, great aunt, friend, and grandma. She will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a donation in Linda’s honor she supported Shriner’s Children’s Southern California.

The website asks for a “recipient”, so the family can be notified of your generosity.

Recipient is: Howard Phillips

Email: [email protected]

A Celebration of Life will be held at Fairhaven Memorial Services, 27856 Center Drive, Mission Viejo, CA 92692, US, on April 25, 2026, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A Reception will follow at Fairhaven Memorial Services, 27856 Center Drive, Mission Viejo, CA 92692, US, on April 25, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm.