Marlene B. O'Connor

Beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister & Friend

Marlene B. (Doherty) O’Connor, RN, born in Lawrence to the late Francis “Frank” and Rita (Bergeron) Doherty, passed away Tuesday, February 6, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

She was a lifelong resident and community member of Dracut prior to moving to Litchfield, NH, where she was blessed with wonderful neighbors. She was the beloved wife of the late Thomas E. O’Connor, Jr., who passed away in 2018. They were married for 61 years, enjoyed frequent trips to Aruba and the company of their family, friends and many beloved pets.

Her greatest joys came from spending time with those she cared about. She was a natural caretaker, making it her career in 1956 when she graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lowell as a Registered Nurse. A gift to the profession, her compassion and knowledge was felt in every interaction in a career that spanned over 65 years. She worked up until she was 87 years young, retiring from Commonwealth Nursing Services as a supervisor. During Marlene’s last months of life, she made sure she took care of all her final arrangements, as not to burden her family, which spoke to how much she loves and care about them. During her finals hours, her family was by her side reminiscing about her life and all the beautiful memories they will have to cherish. She will be remembered for her trips with her grandchildren to the beach, endless sleep overs, her baking skills, making dinners on Wednesday nights, where her kids would come over for her delicious home cooked meals, her affections for holiday decorating and her ability to out-shop anyone she was with.

An avid birdwatcher, she also enjoyed many plays, concerts, movies and food adventures. Marlene, a devout Catholic, was a parishioner of St. Francis Church of Dracut, where she established many lifelong relationships. Her faith was her driving force in life and her guide for helping others. She truly believed all people deserved kindness and compassion.

Marlene is survived by two sons and two daughters, Michael T. O’Connor and wife Karen of Allenstown, NH, Patrick F. O’Connor of Nashua, NH, Colleen (O’Connor) Decker and husband Allan of Dracut and Lisa A. O’Connor and wife Jennifer Martin of Nashua, NH; her six grandchildren, Shannon (O’Connor) Kirley and husband Robert of Salem, NH, Kathleen (O’Connor) Malynn and husband Kevin of Salem, NH, Molly O’Connor of Manchester, NH, Brittany Decker and fiancé Joseph Holden of Salem, NH, Alec O’Connor of Cambridge and Andrew O’Connor of NH; her beloved great-grandchildren, Colin and Jacob Kirley and Aubrielle Angelone, the sunshines of her life; her two step great-grandsons, Ayden and Jayce Valley; her sister, Barbara (Doherty) Pearson and companion Donald of Maine; her brother and traveling companion for many trips across the states, Kenneth Doherty and wife Paula of Methuen; her two sister-in-laws, Bonnie Doherty and Judith (O’Connor) Hogan; her niece, Robin Sanscartier and husband Robert; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was the sister of the late Richard Doherty and sister-in-law of the late Daniel Hogan.

Relatives and friends are invited to Marlene’s Life Celebration on Monday, February 12, 2024 from 9 until 10 AM at ST. FRANCIS CHURCH, 115 Wheeler Road, Dracut. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated immediately following at 10 AM. Burial to follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marlene’s memory to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or MSPCA, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130.