Eunice M. O'Connor

Eunice M. O’Connor, 96, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully January 7, 2021, at Benedictine Living Community. She was born April 1, 1924, in Iowa City, Iowa, to William and Libby (Swab) Parizek. Eunice graduated from Iowa City High School and attended business college in Iowa City. Her great adventure as a young woman was riding her bicycle across Iowa with a friend.

Eunice married John B. O’Connor in Iowa City in 1948. They started their family on a farm in Lone Tree, Iowa. In 1956 they moved to Coralville, Iowa, where John operated O’Connor Insurance until 1961, when he became a District Director for Federal Crop Insurance. As John’s career advanced to Senior Marketing Advisor, Eunice and John lived in Des Moines, Iowa, Annandale, Virginia, and Overland Park, Kansas. Upon retirement in 1986, they moved to La Crosse.

Eunice was a devoted mother and wife who loved people and stayed active in helping others. After John passed away in 1994, she volunteered at Blessed Sacrament Parish funeral luncheons and rummage sales. She also enjoyed her bunco club and the many friends she had in La Crosse. Eunice will be dearly missed.

Eunice is survived by three sons, William O'Connor (Janis Hanson) of La Crosse, Patrick O’Connor (Stephanie Allen) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Thomas O’Connor (Sofia) of Las Vegas, Nevada; three grandchildren, Casey Friedl (Frank) of Stuttgart, Germany, Jaclyn O’Connor of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Adam O’Connor of La Crosse; and two great-grandchildren, Ella Hayes and Avery Hayes of Appleton, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Eldon Parizek and Vernon Parizek; and her granddaughter Kelly Hayes (Ryan).

The family offers special thanks to the caregivers at the Benedictine skilled nursing facility in La Crosse.

Memorials and donations in Eunice’s name may be sent to the Blessed Sacrament Parish in La Crosse.

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What we’d give if we could say

“Hello Mom” in the same old way,

To hear your voice and see your smile,

To sit with you and chat awhile.

So you who have your mother,

Cherish her with care,

For you’ll never know the heartache

Til you see her vacant chair.

We will always love and cherish you, Mom.

Bill, Pat, Tom, and all your family