Caroline Connor

101, passed away with dignity and in peace on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, with her surviving daughter, Carole Marie Connor, by her side. Daughter of Caroline H. Grismer and Joseph L. Finch, she was preceded in death by her firefighter, loving husband, Joseph F. Connor and two beloved brothers, Donald and Joseph Finch. She is survived by many loving cousins, relatives, friends and neighbors — people that she loved and appreciated. She was born in Manhattan, New York City and graduated from Newtown High School. She held careers at Holsum Bakery in charge of the wrapping department, Prentiss-Hall Publishing Co. as a clerical typist, and Bell Telephone Laboratories as a clerical stenographer. In February 1943 she enlisted in the W.A.V.E.S. (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services) and attended the Navy College Training Program at Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater. She passed the Boot and Basic Training to become Chief Yeoman (A) and assigned to Washington, D.C. Over her three year active duty she was involved in decoding German and Japanese communications under the United States Naval Communication Intelligence Organization, which was a top-secret unit of the Navy. She received the Navy Unit Commendation ribbon for her service to this unit and also was awarded the American Theatre Campaign and Victory Ribbons and Good Conduct Medal. When WWII ended she was in the Naval Reserve until March 1951 and was a member in training in the Organized Submarine Reserve at the Naval Shipyard in New York City. Caroline loved swimming, gardening, hummingbirds and Snoopy. She will always be remembered as a dutiful wife, loving and caring mother, true friend and a woman who was feisty and knew her own mind. Her immeasurable presence will be solely missed by all. Arrangements entrusted to Menke Funeral & Cremation Center. A memorial mass to celebrate her life will be held on May 12, Thursday, at 10:00 A.M. at Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne, Roman Catholic Church, 11625 N. 111th Avenue, Sun City. Donations in her memory can be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America or the Disabled American Veterans organizations.