Michael J. O'Connor, 83

Michael J. O'Connor, 83

ATTLEBORTO, Mass. — Michael Joseph O'Connor, 83, of Attleboro, died on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016.

He was the beloved husband of Carol (Crimmins) O'Connor, to whom he was married on Oct. 2, 1965.

Born on Jan. 27, 1932, in New York City, he was the son of the late Michael O'Connor and Margaret (Brady) O'Connor.

He grew up in the Bronx, a place held dear throughout his life. Grammar school was at St. Anne's school, his home parish. He was a graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School, Class of 1949, and from there he entered Dunwoodie Seminary in preparation for becoming a priest of the New York archdiocese. He left there prior to ordination and graduated from Fordham School of Social Work with a Master's of Social Work.

Mike and Carol moved to Attleboro in 1967 and have lived here ever since. He came to work as a social worker at the Attleboro Mental Health Clinic located in Tappan House. Although the name and location of the agency changed, Mike stayed with them at the same job, until his retirement in 2010 from Community Care Services of Attleboro.

Helping others through counseling and mental health programs was a large part of Mike's life. He did the work he loved. Over the years he was involved in starting the first group home for the mentally ill in Attleboro, a chapter of the MDDA, a self-help group for bipolar and depressed people, Parents Without Partners for divorced or widowed, a parent networking support group, the Attleboro Drug Council which later became Reach Out, and Beta House a residence for developmentally disabled which was the forerunner of Beta Community Services.

He remained an active volunteer with many of these programs, and in recent years also served as a hospice volunteer for CVNA in Attleboro as well as leading a men's group at their adult day care center in Mansfield. In addition, for many years he was a co-leader of the prostate cancer support group at Sturdy Memorial.

He was honored with a statewide award for his work with Beta, and, during Attleboro's Tri-centennial celebration, was designated as the person who had contributed most to the advancement of mental health in the community.

He was a communicant of St. Mark Roman Catholic Church in the Village of Attleboro Falls.

Michael truly loved spending with his family, and at his vacation home in Gilford, New Hampshire. A man of diverse interests, he enjoyed biking, cross-country skiing, and world travel. He could often be found pouring over the Boston Globe and following the news and politics.

In addition to his wife, Carol, Michael is survived by his cherished children, Michael W. O'Connor and his wife, Nayade Carinao, of Chelmsford, Patrick C. O'Connor and his wife, Hetty J. O'Connor, of Napier, New Zealand, and Peter J. O'Connor and his wife, Michelle (McGee) O'Connor, of Hollis, New Hampshire. He leaves five treasured grandchildren, Gabriela, Analia, Braden, Jenna, and Lidie Mack. Michael was the brother of Margaret (Nash) Rausse of New York City, and the uncle of James Rausse and Brian Rausse, both of New York City.

Friends and family are cordially invited to attend visitation on Thursday, Jan. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Memorial Chapel of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Ave., Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend the funeral on Friday, Jan. 29, at 8:30 a.m. from the Memorial Chapel of Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church, 105 Stanley St., Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, with the Rev. Thomas A. Frechette, pastor, officiating. Burial services will be private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Michael's memory to either the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of North Attleboro or Attleboro at 1131 Oak Hill Avenue, Attleboro, MA 02703.

For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an on-line guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com