John F. Connor Jr.

July 16, 1927 - November 22, 2025

John F. Connor Jr., age 98, of Wilmington, DE, passed away peacefully on  November 22, 2025.  John will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.

John was born on July 16, 1927 in Wilmington, Delaware to John F. and Mary Kearney Connor.  John attended St. Paul's Grade School and was a graduate of Wilmington High School.

John and his family have been members of St. Elizabeth Parish for more than 70 years. He was the first president of the St. Elizabeth Parish Council and Chairman of the Parish Carnival in the early seventies.  He was a longtime member of DuPont Country Club, Defiance Club, and the New Castle County Irish Society.  John also volunteered at Hagley Museum for many years.

After graduation John served briefly in the US Army and was recalled in the early fifties for a second stint in the Army.  His first full time job was with the Pennsylvania Railroad which lasted until January 1955 when he left and began his career at the DuPont Company.  Starting out as a machinist at DuPont, over the years John was promoted numerous times and was always given more responsibilities as he climbed the supervisor ladder.  After more than 35 years, he retired and often said that retirement was the best job, ever.

John enjoyed golf and travel and was always ready for a good time, but his greatest love was his family.  He and Mary raised a wonderful family, and he was always happiest with them.  He lost the love of his life, Mary, in May 2022.

John was predeceased by his wife, Mary, his parents, John and Mary Connor, his sisters, Marian Martin and Margaret Wilcox and his daughter-in-law, Jacqueline Connor.  He is survived by his  sons, John M. (Linda), Michael (Bernadette) and Mark; his daughters, Marianne (William) Cowan, Jane (Daniel) Caton; and grandchildren, Michael (Chelsea) Connor, Daniel (Alexandra) Caton, Ian Caton, Shawn Caton, William (Emily) Cowan, Hannah (Joshua) Hyman, Patrick (Kaitlyn) Cowan, and four great grandchildren, Noah Connor, Charles and Sayler Hyman and Penelope Caton.

A special thank you to the Hospice Staff at AccentCare for their compassion and kindness during this difficult time.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation from 9:30 to 10:15 A.M. at St. Elizabeth R.C Church, Cedar and Clayton Streets, Wilmington on Friday, December 5, 2025, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 A.M.  Interment will follow in Cathedral Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Elizabeth R.C. Church at the above address or The Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Road Newark, DE 19713.