Obituaries

James (Jim) A. Connor, age 94 and a lifelong West Scranton resident, passed away Saturday morning at Linwood Nursing Center in Scranton, after an illness. Grandpa to everyone, he will be dearly missed by the four generations of family and friends he leaves behind.
Born at home on December 12, 1928, and son of the late James A. and Amanda (Schamberg) Connor, Jim was a graduate of the former Saint Ann’s High School, Class of 1946. During high school, he worked as a clerk for George Fletcher Drug Store in West Scranton. The store’s unique dichotomy, which also contained a U.S. Post Office, led to Jim taking on the dual role of postal clerk and soda jerk all under one roof.
He began his lifelong railroad career on December 26, 1946 with Delaware Lackawanna Railroad. Enlisting in the U.S. Army on November 21, 1950, he proudly served his country during the Korean War while earning the rank of sergeant prior to his November 12, 1952 honorable discharge.
After his return, he also served as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves for a decade before his obligation to the Army ended on November 13, 1962.
Following active duty service, he worked for Richards Freight Lines as safety director and dock supervisor between 1954 and 1963. He returned to D.L.R. which then merged with Erie Railroad in 1960 and ultimately became Conrail, from which Jim retired on New Year’s Eve of 1990. His tasks and titles varied throughout his career, from clerk to chief crew dispatcher to yardmaster to trainsman to even fireman, when need be.
Jim had always been fond of his younger days and carried memories of his youth close to his heart. From playing countless sports in neighborhood parking lots or open fields due to the lack of organized leagues at the time to finding all of the best swimming holes on Scranton’s West Mountain where he would learn to swim, he could also recall riding garbage can lids down the mountain all the way to Taylor, only to climb the mountain and do it all over again. He was quite fond of his days growing up in West Scranton, but even fonder of watching his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all create their own memories while growing up around him.
To know Jim was to love him. Simply seeing his smile was enough to know how kindhearted, loving and good-natured he was. He was considered grandpa to well beyond just his blood grandchildren, but to all who were lucky enough to know him.
A faithful Roman Catholic, Jim was a longtime member and pillar of St. Patrick’s Parish in Scranton where he served the church in countless ways, from acolyte to volunteer. A proud U.S. Veteran, he was also an active member of both the American Legion Post #921 and Ancient Order of Hibernians Hook O’Malley Division.
He is survived by his adoring family who will greatly miss him; his loving wife, Eleanor “Nori” (Feldish) Connor with whom he recently celebrated a 24th wedding anniversary; children, Jean Marie Miller and husband Gerald of Dalton, Maureen Wallace of Scranton, James A. Connor, Jr. and wife Catherine of Scranton, John P. Connor and wife Vanessa of Scranton, Katherine M. Sanders and husband John of Dalton, Patricia Duffy and husband Patrick of Scranton and Barbara Nuckolls and husband John of Scranton; his step-son, Joseph Feldish and wife Nora of Mechanicsburg; 18 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; siblings, Berenice Gavin, Joan Ardizoni, Patrick Connor and wife Jean; a sister-in-law, Hildegard Connor; a brother-in-law, Gary Moss and wife Yvonne; and many nieces and nephews.He was also preceded in death by his first wife of 43 years, Mary Ann (Lee) Connor on November 5, 1997; two grandchildren, Lindsay (Connor) Stetson and Gerard Nealon; brothers, John Connor and Robert Connor; sisters-in-law, Mildred Stewart Connor and Gertrude Hoban Connor; and brothers-in-law, Edward Gavin and John Ardizoni. Jim’s family would like to acknowledge and thank the staffs of both Hospice of the Sacred Heart and Linwood Nursing Center for their collective care and kindness given to both Jim and his family throughout his illness.
Funeral services are scheduled to begin on Friday at 9:00 AM from the Kevin K. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 125 North Main Avenue, Scranton, with a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson Street in West Scranton, to be celebrated by Rev. Richard Fox, Pastor. Burial with military honors by the AMVETS Honor Guard will follow at the Cathedral Cemetery.
Family and friends may pay their respects on Thursday from 4-7:00 PM at the funeral home.
By his own admission, Jim did not love funeral flowers and would rather have the money go to a cause dear to his heart, spreadJOY, in memory of his granddaughter, Lindsay. Donations can be made via its website at www.spreadjoy.cc or by mail to spreadJOY c/o 109 Whitetail Drive, Scranton Pa., 18504.