John Jeremiah O’Connor

John Jeremiah O’Connor, 84, of Mission Viejo, entered Eternal Life peacefully on September 7, 2024. He was born to the late Alan P. and Geraldine M. (Donohue) O’Connor, on November 25, 1939, in Grafton, Ohio and was the second eldest of five children (siblings Dave, Pat, Mary Ellen and Midge). He grew up in Grafton, Ohio as part of a close-knit family where dinner around the table and Sunday drives after mass in the family Plymoth were the norm. Regular visits to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were part of what made the extended O’Connor family bond so strong. When he was eight years old that strength was tested when his mother contracted polio. She was sent to Warm Springs, Georgia for life-saving treatment in an iron lung and was separated from her husband and children for two years. During that time of tremendous sorrow, John and all the children lived with extended family while their father worked and came to visit on weekends. Throughout this hard time, the family relied on their unwavering faith to carry them through. Their mother eventually returned home, and they provided her unending support as she learned to walk again and do daily activities.

Despite this incredibly difficult hardship in his early years, John thrived and developed wonderful qualities, including graciousness and being a positive, ‘glass half full’ person. He was fun to be around and made friends easily. He enjoyed playing and participating in the occasional shenanigans with his siblings and friends at school and on the family farm. He reminisced about the joy of watching his dad keep bees on their property and the excitement of receiving a piece of honeycomb from the hive. Throughout his life, honey was one of his favorite treats, likely because it evoked good memories of his early years.

John was a hard worker and known for perseverance that was demonstrated as he worked alongside his dad and siblings as they built their Grafton home over the course of several years. The garage was built first and all seven members of the family lived there without running water for two years, which included the harsh Ohio winters, while the money to continue building was earned.

John loved sports, especially golf which he learned at a young age while caddying with his brothers at the nearby golf course. Golf would continue to be one of his favorite activities throughout his life, especially because it included time with family and friends and a little friendly competition with skins to be wagered! His love of golf would take him on many adventures throughout the country to some of the finest courses and even to Ireland. Eventually, John would become a member at Mission Viejo Country Club where his passion for golf and friendship could be enjoyed frequently and nearly in his backyard.

John also enjoyed playing football while at Elyria Catholic High School where he earned All-Conference titles and made the Catholic All-American Team. John continued playing football as an offensive tackle while he attended University of Dayton. Unfortunately, during his time at Dayton, tragedy struck again, and his father died suddenly of a heart attack. John took a leave from school for two years to return home and work at the Ford Motor plant to help support his mother and family. John later returned to University of Dayton where he resumed his studies and the game of football he loved so much. Even though it was difficult to pause his education, John would later find the silver lining in it, and he appreciated that he met teammates and friends that spanned an extra two years.

Toward the end of his studies at University of Dayton, John began dating Jeanette O’Donnell, who would become the love of his life. Shortly before their wedding, on August 1, 1964, John accepted a position with the Rigid Tool Company that afforded them the opportunity to move to Southern California where they would live together for 59 years of marriage. They took their time honeymooning across the country before settling into Van Nuys, where they welcomed their first-born daughter, Mary Kay (1965), followed by Kelly (1966). They moved to San Diego and their son Michael (1968) soon joined the family. Shortly thereafter, they bought their forever home in the new community of Mission Viejo and welcomed Colleen (1970) and Megan (1974). In 1975, John left Rigid Tool and with the full support of Jeanette started his own business, Shamrock Supply Company, named as a nod to his beloved Irish heritage. Together Jeanette and John, especially in the early years with a young family, would make many sacrifices which planted the seeds that would develop into a flourishing business. He greatly appreciated all the employees whose dedication made the success of the business possible. He also enjoyed developing relationships with his customers and vendors who he truly considered friends. One of John’s greatest joys came when he began working side by side with his grown children, son-in-law and brothers ultimately entrusting the leadership to his son Mike to carry the business into the future.

John was a devoted father to his five children. He worked hard to provide for the families growing needs, while also making time to participate in activities such as Indian Guides as well as many sporting events. He took great care in sharing life’s lessons through many sayings that he would repeat often such as, “Remember who you are and what you represent”, ‘If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all, “Offer it up”, and “Be charitable”, a poignant two-word reminder to promote peace in a lively home with five children. He also enjoyed planning family camping trips for local destinations such as Doheny State Beach and O’Neill Park, as well as trips as far away as British Columbia and Washington D.C. John loved showing the sights of the country to his children, especially National Parks as he took the family on numerous trips to Ohio, his favorite destination. Despite living in California for so long, John always called Ohio “home” where he loved spending time with his extended family. For John, family meant everything to him and showing this to his children was among his highest priorities.

John received great joy in watching his sixteen grandchildren grow. He loved being on the sidelines or in the audience for the many activities of each of his grandchildren. He also enjoyed gathering everyone together for barbeques at his house where he would set up cornhole and ping pong. Sunday Brunch was also a favorite, where Grandpa’s special pancakes were always on the menu. It was during these gatherings that everyone learned Grandpa’s favorite grace before meals, “God bless the food before us, the family and friends beside us, and the love between us”.

John loved people and he was known to be a very good friend to those both near and far. He often said, “that a stranger was just a friend he hadn’t met yet.” He was able to maintain lifelong friendships with so many people from his early school days at Elyria Catholic, University of Dayton, Mission Viejo neighborhood, St. Kilian, travel basketball, Mater Dei family, Final Four Trips, Mission Viejo Country Club, to name a few. He truly had friends from every corner of his life. When he couldn’t visit in person, he made a habit of writing personal notes, usually in his signature green ink, to express his appreciation and love for the friendship.

John loved connecting people together and through his creativity and leadership he helped organize many parties, community and ministry events, such as St. Patrick Day parties, pancake breakfasts, chili cook offs, golf tournaments, and fundraisers many of which continue to this day. John was deeply compassionate and generous in spirit with his time and with his treasure. Many organizations and individuals were the recipients of his kindhearted generosity not only monetarily but also with his presence during illness or difficult times. He always felt he was incredibly blessed and therefore gave from that place of gratitude.

John was most grateful for his wife Jeanette and was a loving husband. The couple enjoyed the blessing of nearly six full decades of marriage together. Throughout the years, they kept a sense of humor and helped each other grow. During their marriage Jeanette often called John, a “Renaissance Man”, as he demonstrated his love in the simple ways, like frequently cutting fresh flowers for her from their garden. He even began baking cookies alongside her during the pandemic and enjoyed delivering them to loved ones. John ultimately showed the depth of his love for Jeanette as he walked alongside her and tenderly cared for her in the last years of her life.

John was a man of incredible faith in Jesus Christ, and he held deep devotions especially to the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and St. Padre Pio who he regularly prayed to for their intercession. He leaned on his faith over the last two years as he bravely lived with late-stage cancer and most especially when he said farewell to his beloved, Jeanette last February. John demonstrated courageous faith all the way to the end of his earthly life, even praying the words of the Our Father just a few hours before he took his final breath. For all who knew and loved John, it is easy to imagine him entering Heaven smiling and proclaiming these words from the Irish Blessing to all his loved ones…“May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand”.

John is survived by his children: Mary Kay (Jim) Wente, Kelly (Tod) Murphy, Michael (Shannon) O’Connor, Colleen (Michael) Shepard, Megan (Alvin) Peters, sixteen grandchildren, Brother Patrick (Kaaren) O’Connor, Sister Midge (Jack) Carmon, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

John’s family wishes to thank the medical team at Hoag Hospital and Infusion Center staff as well as Hoag at Home for the compassionate and loving care they provided.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated:

October 14, 2024 at 10:30AM

St. Kilian Catholic Church

26872 Estanciero Drive

Mission Viejo, CA

Livestream link:

https://youtube.com/live/O4zyw4jjEB0?feature=share

Followed by an Irish Luncheon in the Hall

*John loved his Irish heritage feel free to wear a touch of green to his service.

Private Interment at Holy Sepulcher

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Eudist Servants of the 11th Hour founded by Mother Antonia:

https://eudistservants.org/donate/

or

Maximilian Stahl, MD, Adult Leukemia and MDS Research Fund - link to follow