Mary Frances O'Connor

Our beautiful mother, Mary Frances (Braile) O’Connor, died on Monday, January 23rd, after a nearly five-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was married to our father, Jack O'Connor, for 56 years before he passed away in 2009 - she made it to heaven just in time to celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary on January 24th! She will be wholly missed and held forever in the hearts of her loved ones.

Her amazing optimism, bravery and grace were inspirational to her family, friends, doctors and medical staff.

She earned the unending love of her children, Vicki and Anthony DiGiovanni, Mitch and Debbie O'Connor, and Patrice O'Connor and Joe Esposito. She adored – and will always be adored by - her grandchildren, Philip and Jessica DiGiovanni, Connor Casey, Lisa and Tim Scholz, Evan Casey, Alex O'Connor, Hanna Poscente and Spencer Poscente. Precious Henry Scholz made mom an official great-grandmother, and a new "Baby girl DiGiovanni" is on the way - mom gets to hold her first! She would also want Gary and Marie Williams, Susan Braile, Patricia and Bill Weber and all her nieces, nephews, cousins and much-treasured friends to know how much she loved and appreciated them.

She was born to Ralph and Anna Braile and her big brother, Frank, all of whom preceded her in death. Her birthday would have been this Saturday, January 28th...we just won't tell you which one! She will be remembered and cherished for her gentle kindness, easy laugh, fabulous style and loving heart, and lived with integrity...till the very end.

Though mom LOVED flowers, she would prefer you send them to someone YOU love that can still appreciate them. We will be honoring her this Friday, January 27th, at McGilley Antioch Chapel, 3325 NE Vivion Road, KCMO (816) 453-7700, at 1:00 pm. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.mcgilleyantiochchapel.com