Obituary of John Anthony O'Connor

South Hadley- Dr. John Anthony O'Connor, 94, died peacefully on January 11, 2023. Born August 4, 1928 in Palmer, MA, he was the son of the late John and Dorothy (Lewis) O’Connor. His sister Mary (O’Connor) Austin and brother Michael O’Connor preceded him in death. He is survived by his adored wife and soulmate of 67 years Anne (Naughton) O’Connor, his son Sean O’Connor (Ilda) of Quincy, MA, and his daughters Ann Marie Gannon (David) of Meriden, CT, Ellen Hourihan (Jim) of Beverly, MA, and Mary Bruzzese (Tom) of Westwood, MA. He was pre-deceased by his daughter Kathy Cavanaugh (Mark) of South Hadley, MA. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree and then from the University of Pennsylvania with a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine, John served in the Army as a First Lieutenant. In 1957 after leaving the service, John and Anne relocated to Western Mass, where John was a gifted veterinarian who had a thriving practice in Granby, MA for 37 years. John was a warm, kind, and generous man who enjoyed watching the Red Sox, Bruins, and Patriots as well as trips to Maine and the Cape with his family. More than anything else, John loved and adored his wife Anne, and was so proud of his five children, his ten grandchildren, Kyle Gannon, Sean Gannon (Amanda), Carla O’Connor, Sean Thomas O’Connor, Katie Cavanaugh, Matt Cavanaugh, Kevin Hourihan, Colleen Hourihan, Tommy Bruzzese, and Johnny Bruzzese and a precious great grandson, Driscoll Gannon. John had many cherished nieces and nephews, wonderful neighbors, and valued friends. John was good at a lot of things, but he was best at unconditional love. John will be forever missed and forever remembered. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 17th from 4:00-7:00 pm at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton Street. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa's Church in South Hadley at 10:30 am on Wednesday, January 18th. Family and friends are welcome to gather at the funeral home at 9:30 am for a funeral procession. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Theresa's Church, 9 East Parkview Drive, South Hadley, MA 01075 or made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of his late daughter, Kathy (O’Connor) Cavanaugh, to support cancer research and patient care at: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or by visiting dana-farber.org/gift.