Obituary: Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. James O’Connor

Rev. James T. O’Connor, pastor emeritus of St. Hugh Parish in Lyons, passed away on April 27. He would have turned 90 years old on June 10. O’Connor was born in 1928 in Chicago. He attended St. Francis Xavier School in La Grange, and Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. He earned a master’s degree at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein in 1953.

O’Connor was ordained to the priesthood on May 5, 1954, by Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at St. Francis Xavier Parish in La Grange on May 9 of the same year.

After ordination to priesthood, Fr. O’Connor served the archdiocese as assistant pastor at the following parishes: Resurrection Parish on Jackson Street in Chicago, St. Francis de Sales Parish on Ewing Avenue in Chicago, Divine Savior Parish in Norridge, and St. James Parish in Maywood. Fr. O’Connor also served as pastor of Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Hometown, St. Joseph Parish in Libertyville, and St. Hugh Parish in Lyons. In 1994, he was bestowed the title of pastor emeritus.

Rev. John Finnegan, pastor emeritus of St. Mary of Vernon, remembers his “closest classmate and closest friend” as a strong and yet gentle priest with a great sense of humor who built long-lasting relationships with his parishioners.

“Jim was the best,” Fr. Finnegan added in a release. “We all wanted to be like him. Jim really knew how to serve the people and serve the Church.”

Visitation hours was April 30 and May 1. A prayer service was celebrated on April 30 while the Funeral Mass took place on May 1. All funeral services were at St. Francis Xavier Church, 124 N. Spring Ave., La Grange, where Fr. O’Connor was baptized. Interment will take place at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.

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