Obituary of John Patrick O'Connor

John Patrick (Jack) O'Connor passed away peacefully at the New Jersey Firemen's Home in Boonton surrounded by his family on May 1, 2017. He was 91. Born in East Orange to the late Joseph O'Connor and Jean (Burke) O'Connor, he grew up in West Orange and lived for many years in Florham Park, NJ. Mr. O'Connor was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Force. He was a B-17 Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner assigned to the 350th Bomb Squadron of the Bloody 100th Bomb Group. He also served in the Korean conflict. He was a member of the Florham Park Fire Department for 50 years. He retired from New Jersey Bell/Verizon after 44 years. During his retirement his commitment to service continued. He served as Treasurer of the Florham Park Fire Department for many years. He was an active member in both the AARP and the Florham Park Senior Citizen Club. He was also active with the St. Barnabas Fire Safety House from 1990 until 2009, driving the fire safety trailer to schools to instruct third graders in fire safety. He was predeceased by his wife of 37 years, Viriginia (Reilly) O'Connor. He is survived by his son John R. O'Connor and his wife Wendy and their four children, KatieLynn, Kristen, Daniel, Kelly and three grandchildren, Isabelle, Avelynn and James. He is predeceased by his son Gary but survived by Gary's wife Nancy and their two children, Rebecca and Rory. Also survived by daughter Susan Wagner and her husband Stephen and their 5 children, Colleen, Jackie, Maureen, Stephen and Patrick, and 6 grandchildren, Emma, Jack, Henry, Connor, Claire, and Aileen; daughter Ann Peason and her 3 daughters, Amy, Megan and Caitlin; daughter Eileen Callahan and her husband Thomas and their daughter Catherine; daughter Jean Jackson and husband James and their 3 children, Shannon, Connor and Patrick. He is predeceased by his brother Col. Joseph F. O'Connor but survived by his sister, Catherine M. Kelly of Forked River, NJ as well as many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at Hancliffe Home for Funerals, 222 Ridgedale Avenue, East Hanover, NJ www.hancliffehomeforfunerals.com (973) 739-9800 on Monday, May 8, 2017 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be from the funeral home on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 9:15 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Family R. C. Church on Orchard Street in Florham Park at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery on Ridgedale Avenue in East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the New Jersey Firemen's Home, 565 Lathrop Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005.