James J. O’Connor, age 87 of Milford, beloved husband of 62 years to Dolores Hilbert O’Connor, passed away January 26, 2017 at Milford Hospital. James was born in Manhattan, NY, November 6, 1929, son of the late John and Mary Gaffney O’Connor. He proudly served in the US Coast Guard for 6 years and also played baseball for them. Before retiring, he was employed as a steamfitter/heliarc welder as a member of Local 638. James will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, along with his life-long love for the Yankees, fishing and reading anything in print. Besides his beloved wife, he is survived by his children Patricia Hansen and her husband Glenn of Fairfield, John O’Connor and his wife Tracy of St. Petersburg, FL and Marianne Barfield and her husband Martin of Floral Park, NY, grandchildren John, Meredith and James Hansen, Herrick and Christopher O’Connor also Kelli and Connor Quail and his special great grandchild Scarlett O’Connor. Calling hours are Friday (TODAY), January 27, 2017 from 5pm to 8pm at the Smith Funeral Home, 135 N Broad St., Milford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 28th at 10:30am in St. Mary Church, 70 Gulf St., Milford. Burial will take place on Monday, January 30th in the US Veteran Cemetery in Middletown, CT at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to National Coast Guard Museum Assoc., 239 R Bank St., New London, CT 06320.
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