Home Page

Mary Louise (O’Connor) Brooke, October 3, 2019, London, England. Born November 25, 1932, in Syracuse, NY; 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, OH, 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 worked as an executive secretary, living in Europe, moving from Rome to Paris, and finally settling in London. She was briefly married to Guy Brooke. She often returned to her family at Christmas time, practicing skilled needlecraft, with her favorite wine at her elbow. Her last visit was for a family gathering in the summer of 2007. Mary was fond of her pets, especially Shih tzus, most recently Princess. In the 1990's, 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, Clare, 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, November 19 at 9 a.m., prior to the funeral at 10 a.m. 

        Burial at Onondaga Valley Cemetery.