Bernadette (McMenamin) O’Connor, 85 of Franklin, passed away on Wednesday December 28, 2022 surrounded by her husband and four children. Bernadette was born in Rathcroghan, County Roscommon, Ireland on October 1, 1937. At the age of 14 she emigrated to London, England where she met her beloved husband, James O’Connor, also of County Roscommon. She followed him to the United States and they were married on June 25, 1960 at Saint Anselm’s Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her devotion to her family will remain an inspiration to all four of her children as well as her 13 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Bernadette was a brave and adventurous soul, following opportunity across the Irish Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the North American continent. She had an amazing gift of making lifelong friends at every new home along the way. A devout Roman Catholic, she was active in every parish she lived in and was the CCD Coordinator of Saint Joseph Parish in Medway for many years.
Bernadette was predeceased by her parents, Bernard McMenamin and Kathleen (Nangle) McMenamin and her sisters, Evileen O’Connor, Margaret Brady, and Theresa Moloney.
Along with her husband of 62 years she is survived by her children, Stephen and his wife Holly (Piacentini) of Hebron, Conn., Kevin and his wife Donna (Marsh) of Medway, Mass., Karen Vernacchio and her husband Louis of Westwood, Mass., and Jim and his wife Lori (Nizielski) of Natick, Mass.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Michael O’Connor and his wife Rachel of Glastonbury, Conn., Robert O’Connor and his fiancé Elizabeth of Madison, Conn., Julia (O’Connor) Proto and her husband Matthew of Middletown, Conn., Daniel O’Connor of Hebron, Conn., Brian O’Connor and his wife Stacy Nazzaro of Dedham, Mass., Katherine (O’Connor) Rojee and her husband Brian of Medway, Mass., Thomas O’Connor of Medford, Mass., Sarah O’Connor of Brighton, Mass., Anna and Sophia Vernacchio of Westwood, Mass., Ella, Henry and Alice O’Connor of Natick, Mass.
Bernadette is also survived by four great grandchildren, Fiona, Griffin, Summer, and Kate.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at Bridges assisted living facility in Westwood for the loving care they provided Bernadette over the last three years. The family is grateful to Old Colony Hospice for the care and support they provided Bernadette.
The family would also like to thank the Sunshine Club at the Franklin Senior Center for all their care and support.
Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 4 in St. Mary’s Church Franklin at Noon. Live stream of Mass: stmarysfranklin.org
Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Medway.
Calling hours will be on Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. in the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com)3 Barber Street, Medway.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bernadette’s memory can be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.