Obituary of Thomas J O'Connor

WEST CARTHAGE – Thomas J. O'Connor, 81, formerly of N. Main St., died Wednesday evening, July 13, 2016 at the Country Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Centre in Carthage, where he had been a resident for several years. Born in Watertown on January 6, 1935, the son of Francis J. & Gladys Menard O'Connor, he graduated from Carthage High School. He worked as a laborer at the former St. Regis Paper Co., for a short time, before entering the United States Navy. He attended Hospital Corpsman School in Bainbridge, Maryland and served in various capacities with the Bethesday Naval Hospital, Maryland, the Station Hospital, Pax River, Maryland and the El Toro Marine Base Hospital in Santa Ana, California. Upon his return home, he was employed by Durkee's Bakery, Carthage, the St. Regis Paper Co., Climax Manufacturing Co., the Fiber Products Research Center, Inc., Beaver Falls and the Crown Zellerbach Corporation. Tom then began his career with the United States Postal Service, in 1971. He held almost every job at the Carthage Post Office; he retired in 1995. He married Janice Spaulding on July 4, 1964 at the St. James Catholic Church, Carthage. Mrs. O'Connor passed away on September 22, 2006. He was a member of the American Legion Bassett-Baxter Post #789 in Carthage. He is survived by his sons; Mark O'Connor, Phoenix, Arizona and David O'Connor, Manhattan, NYC. Also surviving are his siblings and their spouses; Eileen LaBarge, Massena, John "Jack" O'Connor, Watertown, Patrick & Gail O'Connor, Pillar Point, Brian & Betty O'Connor, Carthage, Tim & Marilyn O'Connor, Carthage and Greg & Ginny O'Connor, Swartz Creek, Maryland. A funeral service will be held in the Chapel of the Lundy Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Inc., 500 State St., on Saturday, July 16, at 3:00 PM, with the Rev. Canon Samuel P. Lundy, officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Carthage. Visitation will be held on Saturday for two hours prior to the service, from 1:00 – 3:00 PM.