text: Death Notice: MARY AURELIA O'CONNOR - tribunedigital-chicagotribune
  Death Notice: MARY AURELIA O'CONNOR
  Mary Aurelia O'Connor, a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose faith and generosity made her an inspiration to all those she touched, died Jan. 5 in a care facility in Lake Forest, IL. She was 93.
  Born Aug. 15, 1916, in Mobile, Ala., Mary Fletchinger married Richard O'Connor Jr. of Highwood, IL, on June 7, 1938, and moved North with her new husband at age 21.
  The couple moved to Lake Forest in 1957.
  Mary raised 10 children with diligence, love and hard work, creating a home and serving as an example of spiritual commitment.
  Over the years, she opened her heart to her children's spouses; to a new generation of 17 grandchildren; and to eight great-grandchildren.
  Charity was one of Mary's guiding values.
  For decades, she was a faithful and tireless volunteer for schools and parishes and a hard-working servant of the poor.
  She provided countless gifts of food, care and prayer to neighbors, friends or parish members in need.
  She helped organize benefits, gathering with friends in her basement to assemble, knit or crochet items for sale.
  To anyone admiring her wardrobe, Mary was likely to respond, "Here, take it!" and offer the clothes right off her back.
  A lifelong "Southern belle" who always enjoyed a party, Mary was quick to offer a hug or a laugh, or even to get up and dance the Charleston.
  Visitors to her warm, spotless home, from her children's co-workers and friends to the entire Notre Dame Club of Chicago, were met with the energy and warmth of true Southern hospitality.
  Her highest compliment: "You're a peach." She often bade visitors good-by with a trademark wave of a white handkerchief out her door, calling, "Bye! Y'all come back now!" Mary celebrated her family.
  For O'Connor gatherings, she cooked on a scale befitting a small army.
  Family members in need of financial, emotional or child-care help could always count on Mary.
  A woman of great faith, she worked around the clock each Christmas, hosting the priests and nuns of her parish for breakfast, filling the house with gifts for her children, then cooking, serving and hosting a family meal.
  To sustain this pace over the decades, Mary kept fit with long daily walks outdoors and worked out at home to her favorite "Body by Jake" videotape.
  Throughout a family now spread across two continents and seven states, Mary's love, energy and great spirit will be profoundly missed.
  In her wake endures a legacy of great faith, generosity, hospitality and love.
  Mary is survived by a sister, Frances Demeranville, Mobile, AL; 10 children, Mary Beth McGivern, Edwardsville, IL, Sophia (Carol), Ashland, OR, Patricia Seger, Starkville, Miss.; Richard, Lake Oswego, OR, Nicholas, Ashland, OR, Kathleen Schell, New York, N.Y., Michael, Quincy, IL Timothy, Notre Dame, IN, Kevin, Kent, WA, and Colleen Schwanz, Glenview, IL; 17 grandchildren, Sean and Brian McGivern, Pamela Vogel, Thomas Wesselmann,Kariman Pierce, Margaret Wade, Richard, Lucas, Cristin and James O'Connor, Tighe and Cullen O'Connor, Jennifer Schell Fuisz, James and Blake Schell; Whitney Nobis, and Christopher Schwanz; and eight great-grandchildren, Aiden and Rowan Pierce, Mary, Peter J. and Frances Wade, Silvia Sayilgan, Ramona O'Connor, and RyneNobis.
  The family remains deeply grateful to the staff at Lake Forest Place, a member of Presbyterian Homes, for providing Mary 11 years of loving care at the end of her life.
  In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary's memory may be made to Sister Paulanne's Needy Family Fund, c/o OLPH, 1775 Grove St., Glenview, IL 60025; or the Alzheimer's Association, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60631.
  A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at The Church of St. Mary, 175 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, Ill. Information: 847-234-0022.