Sandra Lou O'Connor

Peacefully, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, Sandra Lou O'Connor, age 84, of Youngstown, OH passed away after a brief battle with lung and bone cancer. She was born in Portland, Maine on February 20, 1941, the daughter of Hubert and Elizabeth Anna (Richmond) Lorz.

Sandra is survived by her daughter, Theresa (husband, Bryan Parker) O'Connor; grandchildren, Bryan Robert Parker, Evelyne (Garret Drexler) Parker all of Ontario, Canada; siblings, Geraldine Koller of DE, Wayman (Barbara) Wood of NC, countless nieces and nephews, especially John (Andrea) Koller of DE.

Besides her parents, Sandra was also preceded in death by her son, Kevin Brian O'Connor Jr. in 2015 and brother-in-law Robert Koller.

Her surviving child has written the following tribute:

"We are heartbroken to share that my Mom, Sandra O'Connor, passed away peacefully after a brief battle with a very aggressive form of lung cancer which had spread to her bones. If you knew my Mom, you were lucky.  If you knew her well, you knew why you were so lucky.

Mom belonged to a class of people, a generation that believed in things seemingly lost nowadays: dedication to family, thinking of others before yourself, being a positive role model for her children and family, keeping calm and carrying on, seeing the big picture, not sweating the small stuff and respect for others. 

As a single mother in the 70s, Mom's honesty, integrity, intelligence and hard work brought her success in a business world then dominated by men. She went from strength to strength, from the secretarial pool to managing the administrative personnel at IBM to becoming Facilities Site Manager for IBM and Merck/Medco, making countless lifelong friends along the way. 

Mom was a Portland, Maine native but grew up in the Bronx where she cheered on the Mickey Mantle era Yankees from the stands as a kid and graduated from Evander Childs High School. She had drinks with Cary Grant and danced in the fountain at Nathan Philips Square. Week-nightly and for decades down at Kirker's Inn, she watched Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune with dear friends. She was an excellent bowler, decent golfer, voracious reader, loved lighthouses and the Maine coastline and so many things, it's impossible to list.

Though cancer took her from us, it does not define her.  She and her life are defined by her love of her children, my brother Kevin and myself, her son in law Bryan, her grandchildren, Bryan Robert and Evelyne, her sister Geraldine, brother Wayman, and all of her nephews and nieces and their children and especially John Koller who she considered a second son. 

Mom had a resolute belief in doing the right things for the right reasons, always and until the very end. She was loving, strong and she was brave. She was my role model, my anchor and my best friend. Being your daughter has been the honor of my life, Mom. We know Kevin was waiting for you with open arms, embracing you in that big warm hug of his. We will love and miss you forever but I will always keep the memories and laughter and your spirit alive in all that I do."

Services are private, with a Celebration of Life to take place next year on the East Coast. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Wounded Warriors or the ASPCA. 

Arrangements by Cremation & Funeral Service by Gary S Silvat Inc. Share memories and send condolences by visiting cremateohio.com.

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