Sister Jane O’Connor (Gabriel Marie)- 75th Jubilee

Written on: May 10, 2022

Sister Jane O’Connor was born in Dunkirk, NY. Her family then moved to Buffalo and became parishioners at St. Rose of Lima Parish where Jane met the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart. She attended Holy Angels Academy before entering the congregation 75 years ago.

Like many Grey Nuns, she began her ministry in education, teaching in various schools in New York, Buffalo and Ogdensburg. Her years in secondary education as a science teacher were spent at Pius X High School in Atlanta, St. Mary’s Academy in Ogdensburg and Holy Angels Academy in Buffalo. She served some years in the Learning Center at D’Youville College helping students to succeed in their college years.

A Buffalonian at heart, in her retirement years she worked at Little Portion Friary with the homeless who often said of her, “Go to Sister Jane – she’ll get the job done.” Early in her life, Jane was an avid skier and still follows national and international figure skating with great interest. When Jane first moved to Holy Redeemer Lafayette, she was instrumental in organizing the lending library there. She is a great fan of solitaire and sudoku.

“These 75 years have been years of memories. They have been filled with many faces: innocent little second graders, struggling teens, searching homeless and many others with whom I share these memories.

Divine Providence has led me through each year, always giving.

In turn, as I gave, I received from those I served and from the many who have worked alongside of me: my family, my community and the wonderful volunteers whom I have been privileged to know.  Through all the years, God led me and cared for me.

This entry was posted in Our 2022 Jubilarians and tagged: Atlanta., Buffalo, Divine Providence, Dunkirk, Faces, Holy Angels Academy, Holy Angels Academy Buffalo, Holy Redeemer Lafayette, homeless, Learning Center D'Youville College, lending library, Little 2nd graders, Little Portion Friary, memories, New York, Ogdensburg, Pius X High School Atlanta, skier, solitaire, St. Mary Academy Ogdensburg, St. Rose of Lima, struggling teens, sudoku