Obituaries

Sally Ann (Grady) O’Connor, age 83, of West Scranton, passed away Friday morning at Allied Hospice. She was preceded in death by her best friend, traveling partner and beloved husband of 53 years, Frank J. O’Connor, on October 19, 2010.
Born in Scranton on March 1, 1935, Sally was the daughter of the late Matthew and Helen Golden Grady. Her father’s federal government employment led to her being raised in numerous locations throughout the country before his untimely death. She then returned to West Scranton where she would graduate from the former St. Patrick’s High School, Class of 1953. She worked as an executive secretary for Bell Telephone Co. before raising her children.
Eventually, she returned to St. Patrick’s School in a secretarial role before taking an administrative position in the Office of Religious Education for the Diocese of Scranton. She would eventually retire from St. Patrick’s Church Parish as office administrator.
A fixture at St. Patrick’s Church and a pillar of the parish, the countless roles Sally served were the lifeblood to both the church and all of its functions for nearly five decades. She was the president of the Altar and Rosary Society (Convent Guild); Co-Chairwoman of the Mardi Gras Festival; a Senior Funeral Mass Server as well as an original bereavement member of the Ministry of Consolation; a church lector; a Bible School Teacher for the Summer School Program; the First Communion Preparation Team for the second grade students; among countless other involvements within the church community.
She was a member of The Red Hats Society as well as a longtime volunteer usher for the Scranton Cultural Center. She made many memories traveling with her husband, adored spending time with her children and grandchildren, and will certainly never be forgotten by all who knew her. Both Sally and her infectious smile will forever be missed.
She is survived by her children, Kevin O’Connor and wife Susan of Dallas and Ann Duffy and husband Dennis of Stroudsburg; three grandchildren, Army 2LT. Matthew Duffy, stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, and Erin and Kevin Duffy, both of Stroudsburg.
Sally was preceded in death by her beloved aunt, Katherine (Kitty) Golden, who Sally considered a second mother as she helped raise her.
Funeral services will begin on Tuesday at 9:15AM from the Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 125 North Main Avenue, Scranton, with a 10:00AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson Street in Scranton, to be celebrated Msgr. David Tressler. Burial will follow at Cathedral Cemetery. Relatives and friends may pay their respects on Monday between 4-7:00PM at the funeral home.