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Obituary for Joan Anne O'Leary
Joan O’Leary passed away at her home in Brookings on January 15, 2012. She was 84. Joan was born February 24, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York to Joseph and Florence (McKenna) Mullen. She grew up and spent the first 33 years of her life there. Joan married Charles E. O’Leary in New York on April 19, 1947. They moved to Middletown, New Jersey in 1960 where Joan became certified as a Licensed Practical Nurse, graduating at the top of her class. She worked in a doctor’s office there for 18 years. She and Charles retired and moved to Brookings in 1984 where Joan was active at Star of the Sea Catholic Church including service in the Altar Society and helping with bingo and the holiday bazaar. Joan also enjoyed playing bingo, baking cakes and Irish soda bread and spending time with her family. Survivors include her daughter, Jane O’Leary-Cooke of Hawthorne, Calif., son, Charles O’Leary of San Francisco, Calif., grandchildren, Kenna O’Brien, Nathan Cooke and Joanie Lopez, great grandchildren, Cormac, Birdie and Harrison, sister, Florence Murphy-Richards of Brooklyn, New York. Joan was preceded in death by her husband in 1999, son, Kerry O’Leary and son-in-law, Roger Cooke. Memorial contributions may be made to Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 820 Old County Rd., Brookings, OR 97415. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at Star of the Sea followed by Mass at 10:30am. Rev. Luan Nguyen will officiate. A luncheon will follow in the Parish Hall at the Church.
