Sr. Nelle Elizabeth O'Connor Snjm Obituary (1920

Sister Nelle O'Connor, SNJM (Sister M. Edward James) was born October 2, 1920 in Port Townsend, WA to James and Florence O'Connor. Sister Nelle died at Mt. St. Vincent in Seattle on November 26, 2013. A graduate of St. Anne's Grade School, Nelle continued her education and graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1938. After graduating from the University of Washington, Nelle joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Seattle. Learning that her brother, Edward, was missing in action with his submarine, Nelle enlisted in the Marines and served as Lt. O'Connor for 32 months during WW II. In 1947 Nelle entered the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary novitiate in Marylhurst, Oregon. While working on her Master's in French at the University of Montreal in Outremont, Quebec, Nelle, as Sister M. Edward James, made her final vows in 1954. For the last 64 years, Sister Nelle served in a variety of ministries: Teacher of French at Holy Names Academy and Immaculate High School in Seattle, as well as in other schools in Washington and Oregon; secretary in the Seattle Public Schools; historian for the Father Vincent Post of Catholic War Veterans; volunteer with senior citizens on Queen Anne Hill; and in these last years, prayer ministry for family, friends, benefactors, and students. Sister Nelle was preceded in death by her parents James and Florence, siblings Eileen Cleary Henderson, Noreen Henderson, James O'Connor, Jr., and Edward O'Connor, and two nieces, Kathleen Holpuch and Sheelah McFarland. Survivors are her nieces and nephews: Alanna Cleary, Dayton, OH; Dinnen Cleary, Seattle; Farol Henderson, Aptos, CA; Mitchell Henderson, Warren, RI; and John O'Connor, Bonners Ferry, ID. Sister Nelle is also survived by the members of her religious community the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 4:00 PM on Monday, December 9 at Sacred Heart Church, 205 Second Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109 Remembrances may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, 2911 W Fort Wright Drive, Spokane, WA 99224. Hoffner Fisher & Harvey Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Sr. Nelle Elizabeth O'Connor SNJM, please click here to visit our sympathy store.