WORCESTER Janet R. (Lavigne) O'Connor-Wilson passed away peacefully at home with her family around her on Monday, July 19, 2010.
Janet was born in Worcester, MA July 28, 1934, the daughter of Armand and Margaret Lavigne. She was wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, educator, volunteer for many causes and a life-long advocate of peace. She highly valued pursuits of the mind and heart.
Janet graduated from Holy Name HS and received her BA in English from Anna Maria College and her Masters of Education from Worcester State College. Throughout her career, she worked at all levels in the field of education. She operated an in-home kindergarten in Leicester and was one of the first directors of the Head Start program in Worcester. She taught middle school in Leicester and high school in Worcester, MA. She also prepared teachers as an adjunct professor at Becker and Worcester State Colleges and throughout the country as a Wilson Language Trainer. She worked at Wilson Language Training for 15 years, retiring as Executive Director in 2004, however remained active as Secretary of the Board.
Janet was dedicated to the education and development of all children. She served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Children in 1970 and U.S. People to People early childhood delegate to China in 1987. She also received many awards and recognitions including Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1968, the Key to the City of Worcester, and Anna Maria's Joan of Arc award. She served on the Leicester School Committee, the advisory board at Holy Name HS and taught religious education. Dedicated throughout her life to helping others, she recently volunteered with Meals on Wheels, the Hope Lodge in Worcester, and at Habitat for Humanity.
Janet is survived by her husband Edward S. Wilson, a sister Joan and husband William Smidutz of Westminster VT and six daughters:
Peggy O'Connor and husband Jim Hipkiss of Charlton, MA; Barbara and husband Edward J. Wilson of Millbury, MA; Catherine and husband Bert Baldarelli of Sutton, MA; Mary Janet and husband Dennis McCafferty of York, ME; Christine and husband Dr. Dwayne Baharozian of Westford, MA; and Cara and husband Eldon Collymore of Portsmouth, NH.
She has nine grandchildren:
Maria, Michael, and Tony Baldarelli;
John, James, and Erin McCafferty
Connor, Zachary, and Alyna Baharozian
Janet's first husband, John M. O'Connor, died in 1983. She has many nieces and nephews. In recent years, Janet has been blessed with an additional family, which includes:
Edward J. and wife Barbara Wilson, Elaine and husband Scott Cowell, Thomas Wilson, Marguerite and husband John Reilly, Michael Ryan and wife Dawn and Stephen Ryan. And their children: Katy and Eloria Cowell; Jack, Gavin, Eddie, and Alannah Reill, and Kelsie, Willie and Jake Ryan.
Janet's Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 23rd in St. Brigid Church, 59 Main St. in Millbury. The family respectfully requests that those attending the Funeral Mass go directly to the church. Burial will be private at a later date. Calling hours are 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 22nd in Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 Main St. in Millbury. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Holy Name Future Fund, 144 Granite St, Worcester, MA 01604 or to: St. Brigid Parish, 59 Main St, Millbury, MA 01527.
Read Janet O'Connor-Wilson's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.
Janet was born in Worcester, MA July 28, 1934, the daughter of Armand and Margaret Lavigne. She was wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, educator, volunteer for many causes and a life-long advocate of peace. She highly valued pursuits of the mind and heart.
Janet graduated from Holy Name HS and received her BA in English from Anna Maria College and her Masters of Education from Worcester State College. Throughout her career, she worked at all levels in the field of education. She operated an in-home kindergarten in Leicester and was one of the first directors of the Head Start program in Worcester. She taught middle school in Leicester and high school in Worcester, MA. She also prepared teachers as an adjunct professor at Becker and Worcester State Colleges and throughout the country as a Wilson Language Trainer. She worked at Wilson Language Training for 15 years, retiring as Executive Director in 2004, however remained active as Secretary of the Board.
Janet was dedicated to the education and development of all children. She served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Children in 1970 and U.S. People to People early childhood delegate to China in 1987. She also received many awards and recognitions including Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1968, the Key to the City of Worcester, and Anna Maria's Joan of Arc award. She served on the Leicester School Committee, the advisory board at Holy Name HS and taught religious education. Dedicated throughout her life to helping others, she recently volunteered with Meals on Wheels, the Hope Lodge in Worcester, and at Habitat for Humanity.
Janet is survived by her husband Edward S. Wilson, a sister Joan and husband William Smidutz of Westminster VT and six daughters:
Peggy O'Connor and husband Jim Hipkiss of Charlton, MA; Barbara and husband Edward J. Wilson of Millbury, MA; Catherine and husband Bert Baldarelli of Sutton, MA; Mary Janet and husband Dennis McCafferty of York, ME; Christine and husband Dr. Dwayne Baharozian of Westford, MA; and Cara and husband Eldon Collymore of Portsmouth, NH.
She has nine grandchildren:
Maria, Michael, and Tony Baldarelli;
John, James, and Erin McCafferty
Connor, Zachary, and Alyna Baharozian
Janet's first husband, John M. O'Connor, died in 1983. She has many nieces and nephews. In recent years, Janet has been blessed with an additional family, which includes:
Edward J. and wife Barbara Wilson, Elaine and husband Scott Cowell, Thomas Wilson, Marguerite and husband John Reilly, Michael Ryan and wife Dawn and Stephen Ryan. And their children: Katy and Eloria Cowell; Jack, Gavin, Eddie, and Alannah Reill, and Kelsie, Willie and Jake Ryan.
Janet's Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 23rd in St. Brigid Church, 59 Main St. in Millbury. The family respectfully requests that those attending the Funeral Mass go directly to the church. Burial will be private at a later date. Calling hours are 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 22nd in Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 Main St. in Millbury. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Holy Name Future Fund, 144 Granite St, Worcester, MA 01604 or to: St. Brigid Parish, 59 Main St, Millbury, MA 01527.
Read Janet O'Connor-Wilson's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.
A service summary is not available