Hattie O'Connor

Hedwig Arinne Heinkel born in Dettingen, Germany on May 23, 1920 was called from this world by her Creator, surrounded by family on Sunday August 7, 2016. Sharing Christmas of 1923 with her parents and brother, sailing to America, she arrived at Ellis Island on January 2, 1924. After settling in Alton she attended Milton School where she played the mother-in-law in a Thorn Thumb wedding performance, with Robert Wadlow as the minister. She also attended Alton High School.

On July, 3 1938 she married the love of her life, James Robert O'Connor, at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Alton. They enjoyed sixty-two years of married life with family and many friends. She was active in numerous civic and social organizations, beginning with parent and church groups, often assuming leadership roles.

She was a member of the Speech Mistress Club, Alton YWCA Panel of American Women, League of Women Voters, and the Alton Human Relations Commission. Volunteering as a 4H leader and a teacher of the blind for the University of Illinois Extension Service, she generously shared her home economics skills of cooking and sewing. As an active member of St. Matthew Church in Alton for many years, she served on the parish council and as a Eucharistic Minister.
She participated in various faith development programs such as Growing in Faith Together and Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

Hattie was an award winning quilter and seamstress. She continued to embroider while a resident at United Methodist Village. As a member of UMV's Crafters Corner, she helped with items distributed to local nonprofits.

Preceding her in death were parents, John and Sophia (Murr) Heinkel; husband, Robert OConnor; brother, Chris Heinkel; two special sisters-in-law, Jane O'Connor and Pearl Heinkel; a son-in-law Edward Stutz; and brother-in-law, Curtis O'Connor.

Surviving are four daughters: Beverly Stutz (Ed), Connie Bollini (Bill), Mary Boyer (Rick), and Theresa O'Connor (Richard Baird). She is also survived by a sister-in-law Helen Quain, two nephews John and Paul Heinkel (Sue) and niece Phyllis Brownlee. Thirteen grandchildren, Fred Stutz (Teresa), David Stutz (Theresa), Barbara (Stutz) Leahy (Thomas), Larry Stutz (Lori), Melissa (Stutz) Mauchenheimer(Marty), Steven Bollini (Paula), Linon (Bollini) Davis (Richard), Suzanne Boyer Baker ( Ed), Beth (Boyer) Stephen (Robert), Katie (Baird) Ashlock, Robert Baird (Jennifer), Christina Baird, Curtis Baird; twenty-seven great grandchildren, Aiden Stutz , Bradley Andrews, Andy Stutz (Johanna), Angela (Stutz), Andrews (Rob), Adam Stutz, Zach Stutz, Tyler Stutz, Ian Stutz, Katherine Leahy, Connor Leahy, Joseph Leahy, Brennan Leahy, Evan Stutz, Abby Stutz, Hannah Mauchenheimer, Luke Mauchenheimer, Shane Bollini, Justin Bollini, Ryan Davis, Shawn Davis, Brandon Wallace, Jacob Wallace, Elaina Ashlock, Aaron Ashlock, Eli Baird, Ty Baker, Tre Baker, Maya Stephen, Alex Stephen; and two great-great grandchildren Aiden Stutz and Bradley Andrews; They have all been blessed by her presence in their lives.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m., followed by a memorial mass at l1a.m. at St. Ambrose Church in Godfrey, Illinois Saturday, August 13,2016. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Ambrose Church or St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Professional services entrusted to Paynic Home for Funerals, with online guestbook and information at www.paynicfh.com

Obit Provided By:
Paynic Home for Funerals