Jacqueline "Jackie" O'Connor

Jacqueline “Jackie” de Fays O’Connor, aged ninety-one, passed on March 7, at Woodbury Mews. She was born July 26, 1933, in Brussels, Belgium, to Charles and Therese (Pirlet) de Fays.

Jackie married Francis “Franny” O’Connor, MD, in 1957, in Brussels. Francis, a Woodbury resident, was a medical school student at the University of Louvain, where Jackie was a nurse in the infirmary. They returned to the US in 1959, operating a family medicine practice together in Woodbury and West Deptford for 40 years. The couple were beloved and admired by family, patients, colleagues, friends, and neighbors. They travelled the world, entertained, and were passionate about family, food, and wine. They were philanthropic and generous with their time.

In the US, Jackie became fluent in English but never lost her native accent. She drove a car for the first time and earned her license. A talented cook, she hosted classes in her kitchen and gave French lessons at Friends School, Woodbury.

Jacqueline is predeceased by Francis and her siblings Christian “Billy” de Witte and Hubert de Fays. She has five children, Mary (John) Carter, Catherine (Eric) Schaefer, Peter (Michelle), Gerald (Jeannie), and Charles (Sharron). She is “Mama” to twelve grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Farewell Tribute

A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 13, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at McGuinness Funeral Home, 34 Hunter St, Woodbury and Friday, March 14, 9:00 to 10:00 am followed by a short service. Burial immediately afterward in Wenonah Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières https://bit.ly/4byoeuu or Main Street Woodbury https://mainstreetwoodbury.org/.

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