Obituary of Roberta "Bobbi" O'Connor

Roberta “Bobbi” O’Connor (nee Benn), 84, of Staten Island, NY, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on August 18, 1940, in Jamaica, Queens, NY, she was the daughter of Leo and Emily Benn.

Bobbi was a graduate of Richmond Hill High School and began working for New York Life Insurance Company as a secretary.  

She met the love of her life, her late husband, James “Chiefie” O’Connor, on a ski trip in upstate New York. They were married in 1964. When they arrived at the Bermudiana Hotel for their honeymoon in Bermuda, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that they were the 6,000th honeymoon couple to arrive at the hotel, earning them an all-expense paid trip as the “Lucky Honeymoon” couple.

After their wedding, Bobbie moved to Staten Island where she raised her family. She cherished her time on family vacations especially to Long Beach Island and Ireland.

After her children were grown, Bobbi worked at Rosemarie’s Boutique for many years, and later at Suzanne’s Fashion Corner.

Wherever Bobbie went she made friends and was a fan of Irish music and the Willie Lynch Trio. She enjoyed reading books and was a self-taught painter, following in the footsteps of her father, an animator for newspapers. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

She was a devoted and loving mother and grandmother and will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her son, John O’Connor and his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Christopher and Finbar; her daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” Manzo and her son, Frankie Manzo; and by her son, James “Jimmy” O’Connor. She was predeceased by her husband, James “Chiefie” O’Connor and by her son-in-law Frank Manzo.

Visitation will be held at Matthew Funeral Home on Sunday, September 8 from 2 to 6 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, September 9 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, followed by burial in St. Peter’s Cemetery.