MILDRED LUCILLE O'CONNOR

Mildred Lucille O'Connor, age 89, of Belton, Missouri, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Friday, April 26, 2019.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with a Memorial Mass to immediately follow at 10:00 a.m. at St. Sabina Catholic Church, 700 Trevis Ave., Belton, Missouri 64012.

Lucille was born on May 15, 1929, in Gower, Missouri. She was the daughter of Floyd E. Groom and Mildred (Donelson) Groom. Growing up, Lucille was the oldest of sixteen children. On the twelfth day of May in 1946, Lucille was joined in marriage with her late husband, James W. O'Connor. Together they were blessed with three children, Donna, James (Gary) and Thomas.

As a woman of Catholic faith, she attended mass at St. Catherine's of Siena Parish in Kansas City, Missouri, for many years. For over twenty years, Lucille worked selling furniture at the Jones Store before retiring from there. After retirement, she volunteered in the church office at St. Catherine's and volunteered at St. Joseph hospital weekly for more than two decades.

In 2014, she moved to Carnegie Village in Belton, Missouri, and immediately fit right in. She was an Ambassador of the New Residents Welcoming Committee, helping neighbors settle into the community. She enjoyed monthly luncheons as a member of the Red Hat Society, as well. Lucille hosted formal tea parties for her friends and often spent afternoons playing bunco, pinochle and was the Village's reigning Black Jack Champion.  She continued her incredible talent for sewing and quilting as a member of the Sew What Club. She collected Irish Santas and loved to teach her grandchildren how to bake; a family-famous noodles were a favorite every Thanksgiving.

Lucille is preceded in death by her loving husband of over 58 years, James W. O'Connor; parents, Floyd and Mildred Groom; and four brothers.

She is survived by her daughter, Donna Steele (Jerry) of Raymore; two sons, James "Gary" O'Connor (Celeste) of Lee's Summit and Thomas O'Connor (Kerrie) of Raymore; eleven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; two grandbabies due later this year; as well as ten sisters and one brother.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, 4001 Blue Parkway, Suite 250, Kansas City, Missouri 64130.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278