Joan Marie (Schmidt) O'Connor

Joan was born in the Bronx, New York, on November 3, 1929, to Harry A. Schmidt, Sr., and Anna Elizabeth Call, also known as Dolly. She died peacefully at home on April 4, 2025, in Falls Church, Virginia. Her parents and her brother, Harry A. Schmidt, Jr, predeceased her.

Joan grew up in the Bronx and attended public elementary schools. She converted to Catholicism in her early teens and graduated from Aquinas High School for girls in the Belmont section of the Bronx. After graduating from high school, she met and married George Carroll O’Connor, Sr., a World War II Fleet Marine veteran of the Pacific Theater and a New York City Firefighter. They married on May 14, 1949, and had four children: George Jr., Harry Edward, Robert (Bobby) Brian, and Elizabeth Mary (Liz) O’Connor James. One daughter-in-law and three of her children predeceased her: Joan Coffey O’Connor (George, Jr.), Liz, Harry, and Bobby.

Joan and her husband raised their family in the Bronx until 1961, and then in New City, New York, until she moved to California. While in New City, Joan worked at the New York Department of Motor Vehicles in Haverstraw. In 1980, she relocated to San Diego, California, with her husband, parents, and three children— Harry, Bobby, and Liz. There, she assumed the role of Executive Assistant to the President of SAIC, an information technology company. Her husband died in 2005 at age 80. Following the death of her third child, Bobby, in 2017 (Rebecca Alfaro, partner at the time of his death), Joan moved to Falls Church, Virginia, to be with her surviving son, George Jr., and his wife, Linda Annette Gieck O’Connor. She remained with them until her death at age 95.

Joan is survived by her son, George Jr. (Linda), eight grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Kristin O’Connor Hirst (Trevor) from Vienna, Virginia, and their three children, Joanie, Trevor Jr., and Callen; Matthew O’Connor (Diana) from Derry, New Hampshire, and their three children, Ava, Siena, and Jack; Patrick O’Connor (Krissy) from Annandale, Virginia, and their children, Kieran and Quinn; Brian O’Connor from New York City; Nicholas O’Connor (Lauren) from Fairfax, Virginia; Ashley James Roberts (Morgan) from San Diego, California and their children, Isobel and Julian; Jourdan James Marsden (Nick) from Carlsbad, California and their children, Elisabeth and Clarisa; and Jennifer O’Connor Beasley (Brendan) and their son Hollis Robert from Walnut Creek, California.

Two nieces and three nephews also survive her: Margaret Cooper from Pasadena, California, and son Christian; Linda Waters from Florida, and daughter Griffin; Jack O’Connor (Lisa) from Middletown, New York, and daughters Lisa and Dina; Neal Schmidt (Adrianne) from New Jersey, and children, Sarah, and Eric (Lauren) and daughter Everly, and Steve Schmidt (Carol) from San Diego, California.

Joan loved her family and spent her lifetime interacting with immediate family, members of her extended Schmidt and O’Connor families, and some very close friends, all of whom she remained in touch with throughout the years and until her passing. These family members and friends gave her great joy, laughter, and loving support.

A memorial service will be held in Falls Church, Virginia. Her remains will be interred at Fort Rosecrans National Memorial Cemetery in San Diego, California, where her husband, George Sr., is buried.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations in her name to her favorite charitable organizations, Tunnels to Towers or St. Jude Children's Hospital.