Bridget L. (Mocker) O’Hearne, age 92, born June 19, 1920 in Taunton, Mass, beloved mother and wife, died on January 30, 2013 at Marion Manor Taunton.
Bridget was the widow of John A. O’Hearne who owned and operated the O’Hearne Insurance Agency for many years in the Sullivan building in Taunton. Bridget was the daughter of Michael Mocker and Eva Widowiak Mocker (both deceased), immigrants from Poland. Michael and Eva Mocker were the hardworking parents of 11 children, four of whom died in childhood. Bridget’s beloved mother, Eva, died when Bridget was seven years old, leaving 7 children and an infant daughter Helen. Two sisters, Thelma Kable and Helen Lecuyer, wife of Roland Lecuyer, survive.
Bridget was educated in Taunton public schools; she was an excellent student and appreciated the kind teachers at Weir Grammar School, especially after her mother’s death. Bridget graduated in 1938 cum laude from Taunton high School, where she served as editor of the yearbook. Her talent for writing was already manifesting itself.
Bridget attended Bryant College, Bridgewater State College, Stonehill College; she completed her degree in Business Administration from Fisher Jr. College. A lifelong learner, Bridget loved the courses she took on the college level, in many different disciplines. She was a conscientious student and probably did not miss any classes, although some were held in Bridgewater and other venues outside of Taunton. Perhaps the long walk from Briggs Street to Taunton High or Holy Rosary Church prepared her for the easier drive to college classes.
As a young woman, Bridget was employed as a legal secretary for the Taunton law firm of Powers and Martin. She was bookkeeper and accounting clerk at the former Camp Myles Standish. She was last employed as a librarian at Berkley Public Library.
A prolific writer, Bridget contributed many articles and poems to the Taunton Daily Gazette and the diocesan newspaper, the Anchor. Her poems fill two large binders, one of which is located in the Taunton Public Library (A Day at a Time). Some were especially beloved by her fans, including the ones about the Boston Red Sox, a passion of hers for over seventy years. Wherever she went in the Taunton area, people would compliment her on one of their favorite poems. Bridget received 16 awards from the General Federation of Women’s clubs for contributions to short story and poetry competitions and competed twice nationally in Washington.
Bridget was a communicant of Holy Rosary church, and was the recipient of the Diocesan Marian Medal for service. She directed the Religious Education program at Holy Rosary for several years, organizing plays and other activities for the children. She was active in several church activities at Holy Rosary, including the sodality, (50 year member), and cooked for the annual Polish Picnic. Bridget was a fabulous cook, and her baked goods were enjoyed by people in Taunton at meetings and indeed wherever any relatives lived.
Bridget was a member of several clubs, including Taunton Women’s Club, Queens Daughters, Holy Rosary Church Sodality, Weir Senior Citizens, and the Greater Taunton Gaelic Society, and the Polish American Citizens Club.
She leaves three daughters: Valerie Jane and husband Edward Leger of Ledyard, Ct; Mary E. and husband Michael Hanemann of Berkeley, Ca and Phoenix, Az. ; and Joan C. and husband Gerald F. Puccini (deceased) of West Yarmouth and a son: John C. O’Hearne and wife Sharon of No. Smithfield, R.I. . She also leaves her beloved grandchildren John Leger, Nicole Stajduhar, Kathy Boltz, Lisa McCusker, and Lauren, Andrea, Jenney, and Michael O’Hearne. Great grandchildren include Emily, Jack, Jillian, Ben, Alexa, Avery, Sean, Clare and William.
Bridget is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Roland (Helen E. Lecuyer) of Raynham and Thelma Kable of Taunton, Ma. Another sister, Mrs. Casimir (Jane) Babiarz of Swansea, died in 2010.
Funeral home visiting hours are prior to her Mass of Christian Burial at the O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington St., Taunton, MA on Monday, Feb. 4th from 8-9am. Followed by a funeral mass in Holy Rosary Church at 9:30am. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Taunton.
The family thanks the nurses, aides and staff on the third floor at Marian Manor, Taunton, Ma. for their compassionate care of our mother. We especially appreciate the care given by Dr. Hoye. Bridget was nourished by daily communion brought by Sister Pauline, and for this we are extremely grateful.
Donations can be sent to the Sisters of St. Dorothy, Project Forgotten Child at jcjc@sistersof saintdorothy.org or Marian Manor (Chapel Fund), 33 Summer St., Taunton, MA 02780 or Holy Rosary Church, 80 Bay St., Taunton, Ma. 02780