WORCESTER: Verna L. (Pinkston) O’Connor, 62, of 40 Proctor St., died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, surrounded by her loving family, at UMass Memorial Medical Center- Memorial Campus, after a long illness.
She leaves her husband of 45 years, Barth S. O’Connor; 2 sons, Gerald S. O’Connor and his wife Paula of Princeton, Dwain L. O’Connor and his wife Julie of Paxton; a daughter, Julie O’Connor Skalin and her husband Jeremy of Worcester; her father, Leon Pinkston; 3 brothers, Benny Pinkston, James Pinkston and his wife Dora, Boyce Pinkston and his wife Geneva; a sister, Karla Kay Pinkston; and an uncle, James Steinepries and his wife Sharon, all of New Mexico; 6 grandchildren, Jonathan, Gavin, Caleb, Allison, Zoe, Aidan; and many nieces and nephews. A brother, David Pinkston and a sister, Geribeth Pinkston, both predeceased her. She was born in Des Arc, Arkansas, daughter of the late Sylvia S. (Steinepries) Pinkston and was a graduate of Robertson High School in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She lived in Worcester most of her life.
Verna was an Administrative Assistant for UMass Memorial Healthcare, where she worked for 25 years. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church. She enjoyed camping, the beach, Native American crafts, and spending time with her loving family and friends.
CALLING HOURS are 5 to 8 p.m. on THURSDAY, June 11, in KELLY FUNERAL HOME, 154 Lincoln St. A FUNERAL MASS will be held at 10 A.M. on FRIDAY, June 12, at IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, 353 Grove St., followed by burial in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton, MA.
The family suggests donations in memory of Verna be made to the Levine Cancer Center at UMass Memorial Medical Center, 33 Kendall St., Worcester, MA 01605 or Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 300 Barber Ave., Worcester, MA 01606. Please leave messages of condolence, share your thoughts, stories and memories of Verna on-line at
www.kellyfuneralhome.com