Cecilia Ann O’Connor, (nee Gerrity) 65 years old, born in Cleveland, Ohio and the fifth child of Paul and Erma (nee Mathias) Gerrity. Cecilia passed away in her sleep April 15, 2024, in Rocky River, Ohio. Surviving is her husband, Michael Joseph O’Connor Jr., sons Sean Tomaltach, Morgan Turlough and daughters Ceara Aine and Moira Sinead. She was the baby of the family and is survived by three brothers Michael (Nancy), Paul “Buster” (Jenny) and Tim (Amy) and one sister Theresa Sherry (George) and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.
She was a devoted and loving mother and wife. Her life was defined by her pride in, and loving affection for her children. A proud alumnus of West Tech, class of ’77. She graduated near the top of her class of nearly 700. She was a great athlete in high school playing volleyball, basketball, and track and holding the high jump record and in the All-City Choir. In college, and long after, she enjoyed being part of women’s and then co-ed softball teams. She met her husband through the Westside Young Catholic’s Singles Group in the Fall of 1986, he knew immediately on first sight that she was the one, he invited her to his Mother’s home for a New Year’s Eve party . . . which he then organized and invited other’s friends to attend. After many other dates, and unable to shake him off after moving to Maryland for work, she said yes on his fourth try Thanksgiving, 1987. They were married on September 10th, 1988 (175th Anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie), the reception was held at the Great Lakes Historical Society in Vermilion).
She supported all her children’s scholarly achievements (happily traveling last December with everyone to attend Ceara’s master’s degree in chemistry graduation ceremony at Eastern Michigan U. She never missed attending anyone’s football, baseball, volleyball or basketball games, or track and field events and was thrilled when Sean became the swimming coach for Lakewood Middle Schools, attending many of the events as well. She was an American Heritage Girl leader, active in Girl Scouts and supported her sons in Boy Scouts both of which Eagle Scouts. In quiet times at home, she loved reading, knitting, and completing puzzles (her youngest, Moira, gave her a special board on which to do her puzzles last Christmas). She spent her summers with her family traveling near or far to hundreds of different historical sites, museums, architectural sites, various camping trips, amusement parks, and car shows. She was a member of the Rocky River Community Choir and St. Christopher’s Choir. She enjoyed birdwatching, particularly with her husband, working on family genealogy and corresponding with many cousins near and far (her father was in China in WWII, her grandfather was in the Spanish American War). She seemed to particularly enjoy taking short or long trips with her children and her husband, recently traveling to Goodyear, AZ, for Guardian’s Spring Training a few weeks ago.
Cecilia attended Cleveland State and graduating summa cum laude, BBA in Accounting in 1981. She passed the CPA exam and worked as an accountant at a Chi Corporation. She returned to CSU and transitioned from accounting to computer programming while completing her Master of Computer and Information Science degree from Cleveland State in 1989. She retired from Bendix as a Senior Software Engineer after more than 20 years at Bendix. The typical 80s computer nerd, she regularly met up with friends for Chinese Dim Sum or dinners shared with her and her husband’s good friends, Gretchen, and John Koch.
Visitation for Cecilia will be held Friday, April 19, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Corrigan Craciun Funeral Home, 20820 Lorain Rd, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126. Funeral Mass Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM at St. Christopher Church, 20141 Detroit Road, Rocky River, Ohio.
Interment Holy Cross Cemetery.
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