Obituary of Eleanora Theresa O'Connor

ILION/MASSACHUSETTS - Mrs. Eleanora Theresa (Cahill) O'Connor, age 91, a former longtime resident of Ilion, and currently of Pepperell, MA, passed away peacefully on Monday afternoon, July 24, 2017, in the privacy and comfort of the home of her son and daughter-in-law. 

Born on June 14, 1926 in Erie, PA, Eleanora was the daughter of the late Francis Cahill and Sara (Nickerson) Cahill-Armstrong. She was a graduate with the Ilion High School Class of 1944 and went on to receive her Bachelor’s in Nursing from the College of St. Rose in Albany. For five years she taught as a health teacher with Herkimer BOCES, before returning to school in 1972 and earning her School Nurse Certification from Oneonta State. She then returned to her alma mater, Ilion High School, and held the positions of school nurse and health teacher until her retirement in 1988.

On November 24, 1949, Eleanora was married to the late John James O’Connor, and the two shared in a blessed union of fourteen years until John’s untimely passing in 1963. Eleanora’s strength and determination was evident as she took on the job of raising her four children as a single mother. She was a hardworking woman who put the needs of her family first and was always there for her children, involving herself in everything from bowling to boy scouts. For many years she acted as the nurse for Camp Russell in White Lake. She was a parishioner of the Church of the Annunciation in Ilion and a lifetime member of the Court St. Bridget Catholic Daughters.

Eleanora will be remembered for her kind, caring and sweet demeanor, and that beautiful smile which never left her face. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis and Maureen O’Connor of Pepperell, MA and David and Heidi O’Connor of Navarre, FL; her grandchildren, John and Carrie Raymond of Knightdale, NC, Ryan and Chelsey Raymond of Valley Park, MO, Kelly O’Connor and husband, Chris Kitchin of Fitchburg, MA, Kristen and Nathan McLaughlin, of Pepperell, MA, Brandon Capenia, of Orlando, FL, Corey Capenia, of Navarre, FL, and Alan O’Connor and Alicia Rowsey, of Salinas, CA; and six great-grandchildren. She also leaves a half-sister, Theresa Cahill of Melbourne, FL; a half-brother, Joseph Armstrong of Yardley, PA; a step-brother, Donald Gauding of Spring Hill, FL; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, Eleanora was predeceased by her daughter, Eileen Raymond, and her son, Sean O’Connor.

Friends and relatives are invited to attend visitation on Sunday afternoon, July 30, 2017, from 3:00PM - 5:00PM at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home's original location, 102 West Street, Ilion, NY (315) 895-7722. Members of the Court St. Bridget Catholic Daughters are asked to gather at the funeral home at 4:30PM to conduct their ritualistic service.

Eleanora's funeral service will commence on Monday morning, July 31, 2017, with a 10:00AM prayer service at the funeral home, and at 10:30AM at the Church of the Annunciation, where her Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by Rev. Paul Catena, Pastor. Procession will follow to St. Agnes Cemetery in North Ilion, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband, John.

For those wishing to do so, please consider memorial contributions in Eleanora’s name to the American Cancer Society.  

All service arrangements have been entrusted to Don Applegate and Martin L. Ciaccia, funeral directors. Online notes of sympathy may be left at www.applegateandday.com.