Lydia Maria O'Connor

Lydia M. O'Connor, 91, died on Thursday, December 12th, at about 8 am. She was born on February 5, 1933, to Gabriela G. Guerrero and Manuel Garcia in Mission, Texas. She graduated from Mission High School in 1952. She then worked as a file clerk for two years at Moore Air Base in Mission, Texas. In 1955, she met her husband, Patrick, at Moore Air Force Base. In the meantime, Lydia attended the University of Edinburg in Edinburg, Texas. Before finishing college, she worked for Pan American Airlines for three years as a Stewardess. She then returned home to continue her education at the University. Lydia married Patrick in April of 1960 and received her Teaching Certificate in September 1960. Later, she did graduate work at the University of Arizona.

Lydia taught school for 7 years in the States, 2 years in Japan, and 9 years in the International School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During the 9 years, she enjoyed the two-week Teacher's Conferences each year in many countries outside Saudi Arabia, including India, Turkey, and Africa. On one of her African trips, Lydia had the opportunity to follow the annual Wildebeest's migration out of Tanzania into Kenya. When school was out for the summer, she made several trips across the globe, visiting many different countries, friends, and her adult children living in the USA. She retired from teaching in 1989.

After retirement, Lydia became involved with an American Embassy-sponsored group, "The American Women of Riyadh." She was a focal point for organizing many of the group's Luncheons and Parties at the American Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She thoroughly enjoyed her thirteen years in Saudi Arabia. In August 1994, Lydia and her husband left Riyadh to retire in Bluewater Bay in Niceville, FL. She was an active tennis player and a Retired Officers Wives Club member. Lydia held office for several years in the Northwest Florida Symphony Guild. She was involved in politics and was a member of the Okaloosa Republican Women's Club and the Okaloosa County Republican Executive Committee.

Lydia is survived by her husband of 64 years, Patrick; a daughter, Teresa Lenington; and three sons, Joseph, Michael, and Daniel. Other survivors include four grandchildren and a sister, Gloria Perez.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 27th, at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church at 10 a.m., and a Funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. The graveside ceremony will be afterward at Heritage Gardens Cemetery. You may go to www.corcatholic.org/funerals at 11:00 a.m. CST to watch a live stream of the Funeral Mass.

In place of flowers for the Funeral Mass, the family suggests contributing to the Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church or the Emerald Coast Mission.

The family entrusted funeral arrangements to Heritage Gardens Funeral Home.

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