Martha Margaret O’Connor, 85, of Newport, RI, passed away on April 20, 2025, at her home in Newport.
Margaret was born in Dublin, Ireland, to Thomas and Julia (Quigley) O’Driscoll on October 11, 1939. She attended nursing school in England and became a Registered Nurse. Margaret emigrated to the United States in 1960 and worked as a Nurse at the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea, MA. In 1963, she married Christopher F. O’Connor, M.D., and they relocated to Glastonbury, CT. In Glastonbury, they raised three children, and she managed her husband’s pediatrics practice for twenty-five years. In Connecticut, she was involved with the Hartford Stage Company, Irish Step Dancing, shuttling children to various activities, and maintaining numerous important friendships. Margaret was also the proud Director of Granny Camp in South Glastonbury and Newport.
In 2008, she moved to Newport full-time, where she was a member of the Circle of Scholars at Salve Regina and the Newport Irish Heritage Association. She loved entertaining, gardening, and regularly attended the Newport Flower Show with her friends. More than anything, Margaret enjoyed time with friends and loved being surrounded by her grandchildren. She was delighted to attend the graduations and college lacrosse games of her grandchildren.
Margaret is survived by her son Sean (Ann), Hopkinton, MA; daughter Mairead, East Hartford, CT; Ailish Shirley (Grant), Knoxville, TN; brother Jerry O’Driscoll (Donna), Berwick, ME, and her grandchildren Emily, Brigitte, Ronan, Kate, Olivia, Christopher, and Aveleen. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews on both the O’Driscoll and O’Connor sides of the family.
She is preceded in death by her husband and love of her life, Christopher F. O’Connor.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, April 25 from 5:00-7:00 pm at the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St, Newport. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, April 26 at St. Mary’s Church, corner of Spring St & Memorial Blvd, Newport at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, 465 Brown’s Ln, Middletown.
Memorial donations may be made to the Museum of Newport Irish History, P.O. Box 1378, Newport, RI 02840, https://newportirishhistory.org/make-a-donation/
