Rose Marie O'Connor

Rose Marie O’Connor, age 94, passed away December 26, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on July 16, 1926, in San Antonio, Texas, to Daniel M. Pedrotti and Angelina (Bolner) Pedrotti. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend who will be dearly missed.

Rose Marie grew up in Del Rio, Texas, and graduated from Sacred Heart High School. She married James A. O’Connor. III, in 1948 and they moved to San Antonio where they lived until moving to Converse, Texas, in 1961.

In the early 1970s, Rose Marie obtained her Real Estate license and was a broker until she decided to purchase Garden-Ville Health Food Store in 1975. She helped countless individuals learn to live their best lives by finding a new way of staying healthy through organic foods and vitamins. She owned Garden-Ville until the mid 1980s when she sold it so she and James could spend time traveling across the United States in their travel trailer. They had many amazing adventures and were fortunate enough to be able to travel abroad on several occasions. After James passed in 1989, Rose Marie went back to work at the health food store where she was again able to help people with their health concerns until she finally retired in 2016 at the age of 90.

Rose Marie was a devoted parishioner of St. Monica Catholic Church. She taught CCD and RCIA during the1980s-1990s. As a result of her unwavering devotion, she helped bring many adults into the Catholic faith. Through the years at St. Monica, Rose Marie was active in the Catholic Daughters, the Guadalupaños, the Altar Society, and the Choir. Her selfless giving was also apparent throughout the Archdiocese. She served on the board of The Worldwide Apostolate of Fatima (San Antonio Chapter), was a board member of Padua Place, and a Third Order Franciscan. Rose Marie was instrumental in establishing Seton Home, helping pregnant teenagers in crisis in Bexar County. She and James even opened their home from time to time to house these women until room became available at Seton Home.

Rose Marie’s most cherished calling from God was to provide a home for homeless mothers who opted to choose life for their unborn babies. Through the tireless work of Rose Marie and three other undaunted, devoted Catholic women, Guadalupe Home was established in 1997. The Home offers spiritual guidance, shelter, education, and ultimately a transition to a better life. Since its inception, the Home has witnessed over 450 miracles: over 450 babies being given the gift of life. Rose Marie was presented with the Lumen Gentium award on January 31, 2013, in recognition of her outstanding example of Catholic devotion, charity, and compassion.

Rose Marie was an incredible mother to her children and a loving inspiration to her grandchildren. Her happiest moments were watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren play and grow even when it meant window visits from her room or utilizing technology which she learned to use like a pro - for online visits.

Rose Marie was preceded in death by her husband, James A. O’Connor III; parents, Daniel and Angelina Pedrotti; and sister, Antoinette Pedrotti. She is survived by her daughters, Colleen O’Connor, Jamie Hilbig (David), and Mary Bordelon (Ray); son, Jim O’Connor (Lauren); grandchildren James Hilbig (Lia), Jennifer Cernosek (Brandon), Christy Young (Jason), and Stephanie Martinek (Shane); great-grandchildren Tristan Hilbig, Avery Hilbig, Harrison Hilbig, Hudson Hilbig, Jack Cernosek, Ella Cernosek, Dylan Young , and Sydney Young; sisters, Josephine Beitzel, Margaret Ann Kelly, Jeanette Carpenter (Jim [Murph]); brothers, Daniel Pedrotti (Carolyn) and Louis Pedrotti (Sue); as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends.

The family will celebrate a Rosary and funeral Mass for Mrs. O'Connor on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. Due to COVID concerns, the Rosary and Mass will be restricted to family only. All others are invited to join the family via livestream beginning at 11:30 a.m. on the St. Monica Catholic Church Facebook page.

https://saintmonicaconverse.net/start-here/wondering-about-mass-times/streamed-masses

Burial will follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:

Guadalupe Home -

2102 Buena Vista,

San Antonio, Texas, 78207

Please make checks payable to Guadalupe Home and put Rose Marie’s name on the memo line.

OR

Donate to Guadalupe Home on-line at

https://ccaosa.org/donate

Please select Guadalupe Home from the “direct my donations to” drop-down menu box and put

Rose Marie O’Connor in the “Honoree Name” box.