Rosemary P. (Buckley) (Jones) O’Connor, a lifelong resident of Brockton, died Monday, December 8, 2008, at home under the care of her family and hospice at the age of 90. She was the wife of the late William A. O’Connor and the late Lt. Wallace R. Jones, USN.
Born in Brockton on May 21, 1918, she was the daughter of the late John C. and Josephine (Flannery) Buckley. Rosemary was a graduate of St. Patrick High School, class of 1937. In her youth, Rosemary was very active in St. Margaret’s Parish Theater in which she had many leading roles in the Musical and Drama Productions. She was also a member of the Junior Twentieth Century Catholic Club and a communicant of St. Patrick’s Parish.
In 1943 she married her high school sweetheart, navy pilot Lt. Wallace Jones USN. As a navy wife she lived in Oscalusa, Iowa, Coronado, California and Pennsicola, Florida. Upon her husband’s untimely death, she returned home to Brockton where she raised her three young sons. Rosemary was a devoted wife to her husband the late William A. O’Connor for 39 years with whom she had their daughter, Nancy.
A communicant of St. Edith Stein Parish (formerly St. Edward’s) for more than 60 years, she was a member of the Ladies Sodality and the St. Edward’s School PTA. She was also a member of “Irelands’ Own” Irish Social Club of Brockton.
Rosemary devoted her life to her family and friends. She was always there to help with taking care of her children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. She had resided for the past 17 years with her daughter, son-in-law and their children, where she enjoyed listening to and sharing a story or song or two with all their friends. She was known to all as “Nana”.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Richard and Elizabeth Jones, Robert and Pamela Jones, Donald and Susan Jones and Nancy (O’Connor) and Alexander Oriola. Loving grandmother of Nicole (Jones) Krisiukenas and her husband Jerome, Courtney and Ashley Jones, Shannon and Shawn Oriola and great grandmother of Emily and Mark Krisiukenas. She was also step grandmother to Scott and his wife Krissy, Hailee, Annmarie and Mikaela Oriola. Sister-in-law of John and Patricia (O’Connor) McGillis, Paul and Teresa O’Connor and Eleanor Flynn. In addition to her children she lovingly leaves many cousins, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, dear friends and her beloved companions and pets, Maggie, Tigger and Jackie. She was the sister of the late John Russell Buckley and sister in law of the late Robert and Mary (O’Connor) Waldron, Herbert and Mary O’ Connor, Margaret (Jones) Burke, and Edward and Francis Jones.
Funeral from the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton, Saturday at 8am. Funeral Mass in St. Edith Stein Parish/St. Edward Church at 9am. Burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visiting Hours Friday 3-8pm. Donations in Rosemary’s name may be made to Old Colony Hospice, One Credit Union Way, Randolph, MA 02368, for online donations click here or St. Edith Stein Renovation Fund, 71 East Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301.