TWG of Syracuse

Mary Louise (O’Connor) Brooke, October 3, 2019, London, England. Born November 25, 1932, in Syracuse, N.Y.; her parents were the late Kathryn (Collins) and Francis E. O’Connor. Her father, a railroad man, and the family moved from Syracuse to Jersey Shore, Pa., and on to Toledo, Ohio, where they lived many years. After attending Ursuline Academy in Toledo for three years, she finished high school at St. Anthony’s, Class of 1949, in Syracuse.

In the early 1950s, Mary Louise moved to New York City, working for New York Telephone and eventually with advertising firm J. Walter Thompson. While in New York City, she had a son, whom she put up for adoption.

Mary earned her living as an executive secretary, living in Rome and Paris, before settling in London. She was briefly married to Guy Brooke. She often returned to her family at Christmas, practicing skilled needlecraft, with her favorite wine at her elbow. Her last visit was for a family gathering in the summer of 2007. Mary shared her life with a succession of dogs, especially shih tzus, most recently Princess. In the 1990s, she and her son, Gerald Regan, of New York City, were reunited.

Predeceased by her parents, and siblings Francis, Ann, Kathie, and Ellie; survived by her son, Gerald Regan; her nephew Sean Nevins, her brother-in-law Peter King, and nieces Kirsten, Wendy, Erika, Therese, Clair, Kathy, Bernadette, Celia, and their children, and her faithful friend Carla Silva of London.

Donations in her memory can be made to Amberations, 2345 Amber Rd., Marietta, N.Y. 13110, an experiment in fostering concern for environment, animal husbandry, and building community on the hills and creeks of the Skaneateles watershed.

Friends may call at All Saints Church at 1340 Lancaster Ave., in Syracuse, on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 9 a.m., prior to the funeral at 10 a.m.

Here's the eulogy I wrote and delivered at the funeral Mass: 

A Final 'Good Night' to Mary Louise, Ma Mère

and, above, a photo of the lovely and much-appreciated arrangement sent by our colleague Linda Evangelista on behalf of all the members of TheWildGeese.irish.

Below is a link to the eulogy I wrote and delivered at the funeral Mass: 

A Final 'Good Night' to Mary Louise, Ma Mère

and, above, a photo of the lovely and much-appreciated arrangement sent by our colleague Linda Evangelista on behalf of all the members of TheWildGeese.irish.