Kathleen Patricia (McCarthy) O’Connor

WALLINGFORD - Kathleen O'Connor, 70, passed away in Wallingford, CT on November 15, 2022. She died at home while surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 14, 1952, in Yonkers, NY and lived most of her life in Milford and West Haven.

Kathy, as she was known to her friends and family, was a free spirit. Her passions included music (especially live), gardening (while adorning her plants with fairy sculptures), and animals (she dreamed of living on a farm where she could care for "all of them").

Kathy's professional calling was always nursing. She was promoted and spent several years working in hospital administration but left it to return to bedside nursing. "I just loved it," she would always say when talking about caring for her patients.

Her greatest joy, however, was her family. She was a beloved mother to Matthew and Alexandra Martin. While her marriage to their father, Nick Martin, was brief they remained lifelong friends and she was so thankful that their paths crossed in such a meaningful way.

Kathy was also the birth mother to Cathy Kornbluth. Their reconnection several years ago brought Kathy immeasurable peace, joy, and pride.

"Nana," as she was known to her two granddaughters, seemed to find her truest passion and purpose in life after the birth of her granddaughters, Kaylee and Emily, to Matthew and his wife Heather, whom Kathy loved like another daughter.

Kathy was the wife of Jim O'Connor, with whom she spent the last 22 years of her life. The pair formed an immediate connection over their love of music and enjoyed a happy marriage. She adored his mother, Pat, and his entire extended family.

While long gone, Kathy never stopped loving and thinking about her parents, Joseph and Barbara McCarthy of Milford. From her father, Kathy inherited a love of the New York Yankees, deep pride in her Irish heritage, and the colorful, occasionally salty vocabulary that he had learned while serving in the Navy. Her mother imbued her with a caring nature and sense of duty that led Kathy to retire early to care for her mother at home full time later in life.

Kathy adored her brothers. Her brother David and his wife Jen were frequent companions at concerts and favorite friends for long conversations. Her brother Joe and his wife Susan delighted her and fed her well every time they visited.

Throughout her life, Kathy had a menagerie of animals: cats, dogs, iguanas, geckos, and even an occasional spider. She leaves behind a very special dog, Toby. When Kathy first became sick she preordered a year's worth of Bark Boxes for Toby, because, even at her worst moment, she was thinking about everyone else.

Kathy leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and compassion.

A celebration of her life will be held for her on December 3, 2022, from 12pm-4pm, at Square Foot Theatre & Tavern, 950 Yale Ave, Wallingford, CT 06492. In honor of Kathy's wild heart and ambivalence of "the norms," a casual dress code is requested. She would have wanted to see her loved ones in concert tee shirts, Yankees gear, shamrock patterned pieces, tie-dyes, her beloved elephant motif, or anything else they felt comfortable in. If you prefer traditional attire, that's cool too. As Kathy would say, "you do you."

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Kathy's love of animals, donations can be made in her memory to Whiskers-A-GoGo by going to https://www.tmcfunding.com/funds/in-memory-of-kathleen-patricia-o-connor/7209/. 

The B.C. Bailey Funeral Home of Wallingford, CT has been entrusted with arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathleen Patricia (McCarthy) O’Connor, please visit our floral store.