WAYLAND: Bernardine Anne “Bea” (Kennedy) O’Connor, age 79, of Wayland and Falmouth passed away on October 6, 2013.
Bea was the wife for 55 years of Frank O’Connor of Wayland.
She was born on April 29, 1934 the daughter of the late John W. Kennedy and Rose M. (Cunningham) Kennedy of Lawrence.
Besides her husband, Bea is survived by her three children and their spouses Kathy and Peter Ekdahl of Hudson; Frank and Teresa O’Connor of Medway and John and Sheila O’Connor of Rutland, VT. She was the devoted grandmother of seven grandchildren. She was the sister of Joan Willis of North Andover, Mary Lou Krickenberger of Houston, TX and the late John Kennedy, Jr. She also leaves several nieces and nephews.
Bea was a graduate of Lawrence High School. She attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst graduating in 1955 with a BA degree in English. She worked for the Wilmington School System and for the Research Division of AVCO prior to marriage. While raising her family, she frequently served as a substitute teacher in the Wayland School System. Bea’s avocation was that of a teacher. She enjoyed teaching children whether it be of the English language or religious education. She was a strong supporter of her children on the athletic field.
Bea traveled extensively with her husband living in Brunswick, ME; Tacoma, WA; Moses Lake, WA; Great Falls, MT; Kansas City, MO; Garden Grove, CA; Fukuoka, Japan; Madrid, Spain and Tokyo, Japan. She was the Treasurer of the Japanese American Embassy Women’s Club while living in Tokyo. Her fond memories of Japan are exemplified by many Japanese artifacts decorating her Wayland home. She was an avid reader, bridge player, and cross word puzzle solver. She spent many enjoyable times on the beach with her husband and friends while vacationing in Naples, FL. She frequently played golf with her husband while in Tokyo and while residing on Cape Cod.
Visitations will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2013 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Rd (Off Rte 30), Wayland.
Family and friends are requested to go directly to the Good Shepherd Parish at St. Zepherin’s Church, 99 Main St (Rte 27), Wayland on Friday, October 11, 2013 at 10:00 am for her Mass of Christian Burial.
Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Wayland.
In lieu of flowers, gift’s in Bea’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., 480 Pleasant St, Watertown, MA 02472.