You are invited to sign Betty's online guestbook - share a message of comfort, a memorable story or even a photograph. The memories you share will be forever cherished.

 

 Beatrice "Betty" O'Connor of Binghamton was one of a kind. A vivacious, infinitely kind woman who thought it perfectly normal to expect a first grader to read, comprehend and discuss Great Expectations and never believed there were limits. She drove a baby blue Thunderbird and was a cheerleader. She was first and foremost a teacher, and she lives on through the lessons of her life.
   Keep dog cookies and a pen handy. Know you can be or do anything you set your mind to, even when the rest of the world tells you it is impossible. Dance the jitterbug, be a homecoming queen, a ham radio operator, landscaper, and fashionista during your life. You will never be boring and you will have many desirable skills. Donate to animal, veteran and Catholic charities and be genuinely thankful when you receive return address labels, felt blankets or calendars in the mail from them.
    Pray. Pray often and don't be afraid to use your prayer cards. Garden as much as possible. Keep on gardening no matter how many greenhouses collapse, break or blow down. Enjoy good music, wine or a cocktail, and take care of your family. Take care of them when they are sad, sick, dying or orphaned. It is simply the right thing to do and there are no shortcuts or room for delicate constitutions when family needs you. 
        Be beautiful on the outside, but more importantly, be gorgeous on the inside. Let your nieces stable a horse in your garage and make no apologies for it. Ever. Travel and stay home, in equal measure and when it feels right to you. Read a newspaper everyday and always do the puzzles to keep your mind sharp. Do not, under any circumstances, allow yourself to be bitten by a palmetto bug. Know your adverbs and read voraciously. Love a man with a monkey once and forever in your life.
    If you learned any of these lessons, chances are good you knew Beatrice "Betty" O'Connor. Perhaps she was your English teacher at Chenango Valley Junior Senior High, or you shopped at her local boutique, the Villa Bianca. Or, if your were truly blessed, you were part of her family or one of her beloved friends.  
    Betty left this world on April 20, 2015 to be with God, her parents, Martin J, O'Connor and Mae D'Arcy O'Connor, and her siblings, John (Jack) O'Connor, Mary O'Connor English, Fran O'Connor, Donald J. O'Connor, and Margaret O'Connor Downs. Her spirit lives on in all those who knew her, including the two nieces she raised as her own, Mary Downs and D'Arcy Downs-Vollbracht, several other nieces and nephews, and countless former students and friends.
   Private funeral arrangements have been made at Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home. She was buried in Calvary Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to St. Francis of Assisi Church in Binghamton, or the local animal or veteran cause of your choosing.

 

 

 

 

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