JAMES FRANCIS O'CONNOR
James Francis O’Connor died peacefully on June 15, 2018, after courageously battling lung cancer for over two years. He was 76 years old.
James was born on June 13, 1942 in Newark, New Jersey. James served in the United States Marine Corp, and worked as an Alarm System Technician for many years after leaving the military. He married Elizabeth Deubel in 1962. James and Elizabeth had three daughters, Helen, Ruth, and Patricia. The family lived alternately in New Jersey and Texas for a few years, and eventually settled permanently in Houston, TX.
James had an infectious happy-go-lucky personality, and family was very important to him. James was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. James was affectionately known as “Uncle Jimmy” to his many nieces and nephews.
James had a way with animals. Over the years he kept exotic fish, hamsters, cats, and dogs. He loved all animals, and animals loved him.
James loved to cook. He had a schedule: Wednesday was pizza day; fish was served on Friday; and spaghetti and meatballs on Saturday. James also loved to bake, and was well-known for his many desserts. James especially enjoyed cooking for family gatherings. When he wasn’t cooking he always had something to eat in his hand, or was saying that he was hungry.
James is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Paul Burger of Cypress, TX; his daughter and son-in-law Ruth and Jaime Alfaro of Houston, TX; his grandchildren Brandy Pierce, Ruth Mary Alfaro, Brian Alfaro, Albert Garza, Valentina Garza, and Elizabeth Garza; his great-grandchildren Kinsley Pierce, Kennedy Pierce, and Adriana Garza; his sisters Kathleen Buehler and Maureen Gomez; his brother-in-law Marcelo Marquetti; his nieces and nephews Nancy Cin , Joseph LaBoy, Laudelina Marquetti, Gloria D’Annunzio, Michael Gomez, Janet Vidreiro, and Jackie Oeckel; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.
James is preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth; his daughter Helen Garza; his parents Joseph and Gertrude O’Connor; his sister Agnes Marquetti, his brother Patrick O’Connor, his nephew Robert Gomez, and his niece Kelly Ann O’Connor.
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