Betty O'Connor

Betty J. O'Connor, 83, of Waukon, IA, died Friday, January 11, 2019, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 18th, at 11:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial will be at Wexford Cemetery, rural Lansing. Friends may call one hour before the services at the church on Friday. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Betty Jane O'Connor was born February 25, 1935, in Harpers Ferry, IA, the daughter of Vincent and Dorothy (Corrigan) Callahan. She was baptized and Confirmed at St. Ann's - St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, graduated from Harpers Ferry High School, and then went on to be a registered nurse. Betty worked at Rush Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, IL, for over 45 years, living in Forest Park, IL, Berwyn, IL, and Williamsburg, IL, before moving to Waukon, IA. Betty was the longest serving nurse at the hospital; the International Nursing Association recognized her as a top nurse and featured her in their publication "Worldwide Leaders in Health Care". On October 17, 1987, she married John O'Connor at St. Bernardine Catholic Church in Forest Park, IL.

Betty was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon and the Chicago Catholic University Club. She enjoyed going to church, bowling, playing volleyball, traveling, going out to eat with family and friends, participating in the St. Patrick's Day parade, and dancing.

Survivors include her siblings: Colleen Mulvihill of Buffalo Grove, IL, Mary Ann (Robert) Fabrie of Hernando, FL, and Michael Callahan of Berwyn, IL; and nieces and nephews: James (Karen) Fabrie, Thomas (Laura Brady) Fabrie, Sheila (Cary) Stoffels, Shannon (Brian) Coyne, and Michael Callahan Jr. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband John; two brothers: Bill and Dan Callahan; a brother-in-law Michael Mulvihill; and a niece Margaret Callahan.