Jean H. O'Hara

Jean Hession O’Hara, nee Regina Agatha, was born on April 27, 1925, in Baltimore, MD and lived a long, remarkable life. She died in Atlanta GA on June 25, 2024. She is predeceased in death by her husband James Craig O’Hara, her parents William and Alice Hayden Hession, her uncle and aunt Charles and Edith Krastell, her sister Mary Hession Frock, her brothers William and Joseph Hession, her son James B O’Hara, and her dearest friend Veronica (Bonnie) Miller. She is survived by three of her 4 children and spouses: Joan O’Hara (Brinkley) Wehner, Christiane O’Hara (Robert) Seifring, Patricia O’Hara, wife of James B O’Hara (deceased), and Jeffrey Hayden (Sandra) O’Hara; 10 grandchildren and spouses: Martha Wehner (Charles) Keith, Christopher (Rachelle) Wehner, Brian (Dana) Brennan, Alexander (Kathryn) Brennan, Matthew Brennan, Jonathan (Shanna) O’Hara, Will (Kate) O’Hara, James H. O’Hara, Connor O’Hara, and Ryan O’Hara; her 11 great-grandchildren: Garrett, Grace, Emma Jean, Wright, and Harrison Brennan, Henry and Kevin Keith, and McCaddin, Knox, Patrick, and Spencer O’Hara; and her dear Goddaughter, Sue Frock.

Jean graduated from Notre Dame Prep and Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. Marriage took Jean and Jim to Washington DC, her beloved Isle of Palms SC, Erie PA, Schenectady NY, where Jean graduated with a Masters in American Studies from Union College and a Masters in Library Science from SUNY Albany, and finally to Atlanta. Jean worked for many decades as a college reference and research librarian, first at NY State Archives then Siena College in Loudonville NY, and after moving to Atlanta, at the GA State Archives and finally at Georgia Perimeter College (Dunwoody).

Jean spent her entire adult life reading, enjoying the beach, jigsaw puzzles, and travelling. Her travels with her husband, her friend Bonnie, and family took her around the globe. She completed extensive research on her family’s genealogy, travelling to Ireland several times, meeting her cousins, and visiting the family farm and dance hall. In the final years of her life, she enjoyed hearing about others’ travels, reminiscing about her own, and encouraging others to travel and to read. She was a ballet and modern dancer from childhood, and enjoyed attending the ballet long after her dancing days were over. In her later years, she volunteered to catalogue her Church’s and a local Catholic college’s libraries. She loved visits from and hearing about her children and spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, and great-grandchildren, and was proud of each one of them.

Her family is grateful to: her internist Dr. Kelly Ahn and his staff Debbie, Elizabeth, and Betty- her friends for decades; Walker Miller, her “Taxes Ranger”, and David Dillon; Michael Jabour, St. Jude’s Eucharistic Minister who brought Sunday Communion for years; the staffs at Emory St. Joseph’s hospital and MeSun Hospice Inpatient Unit; and Cerra McCoy, her sitter and friend.

Jean was a devout Catholic, enjoying a Coke after Mass for her entire lifetime. Her life will be celebrated at a Funeral Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 3175 Hathaway Ct., Atlanta GA on July 6, 2024 at 11:00am and livestreamed. Private interment. Visitation will take place at H.M. Patterson & Son- Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd NE, Sandy Springs on Friday July 5 from 4-6pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Labre Indian School, 112 St. Labre Way Campus Drive, Ashland MT 59004, or donate to St. Labre through their website at https://give.stlabre.org/page/122315/donate/1?CPID=24TWEB&SRC=24TWEBTWEB.