Mary Joe O'Connor

Mary Josephine (Mary Joe) O’Connor nee McAuliffe of Levittown, New York, 86 years old, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2019. Mary Joe was born on November 8, 1932 to Timothy and Mary (Broderick) McAuliffe in Knockbrack, Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Mary Joe left Ireland from the Port of Cobh (Queenstown) Co. Cork aboard the Ocean Liner Britannica and arrived into New York City in May of 1950, but returned to Ireland in 1963 where her children were born. Mary Joe is survived by her two children Mary Anne O’Connor and Gerard O’Connor and her grandchildren, Gina Marie and Christopher and her great grandson, Jayden. She is also survived by her sisters Bridget Reilly, Eileen Ciullo and Francis Carroll in the United States and Rita Farrell in Co. Longford, Ireland. She is predeceased by her husband, Cornelius (Chris), her sister, Sheila Sullivan and her brother Michael, who died in infancy.

Although her heart was always in Ireland, Mary Joe eventually settled in the Bronx in 1971. She made her way by working for The NYC Board of Education for almost 25 years before retiring in 1996 and relocating to Levittown, New York to be close to her grandchildren, whom she adored.

Mary Joe loved to travel and spent every summer with extended family in Ireland, Rockaway Beach and East Durham, New York.

In retirement, she spent winters at her home in Boynton Beach, Florida where she enjoyed a large Irish Community.

Mary Joe was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Mary Joe was also a devoted aunt to her numerous nieces and nephews; she was always on call to give driving lessons, late night pickups and anything else that they didn’t want to call their parents for.

She lived life to the fullest and there are no words to express how much she will be missed.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, June 6, 2019 from 2-4 and 7-9. Cremation will take place on Friday June 7, 2019.

Mary Joe loved animals so in lieu of flowers donations can be made in her name to Hi-Tor Animal Shelter, 65 Firemen’s Memorial Drive, Pomona, New York 10970, Telephone Number (845) 354-7900, email address [email protected].