Joan Marie O'Connor

Joan Marie O’Connor, affectionately known as Joanie, passed away on October 25, 2020. Joanie was our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She left us peacefully at 94 years of age and will be greatly missed. Joanie was born to Joseph and Odette d’Abadie on a cocoa plantation in Chickland, the rural countryside of Central Trinidad. She had two older siblings, Odile and Ian, and four younger siblings, Noreen, Monica, Keith (Cush), and Sheilah, all of who have predeceased her. She attended high school at Saint Joseph's Convent in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. She enjoyed many sports and was very good at both field hockey and tennis. Joan and Donnell (Pops) were married in 1948, and were married for 45 wonderful years until Donnell’s death in 1993. When they were first married they lived in the oilfield camps of South Trinidad as Donnell pursued a career in the oil industry. Eventually, they built a home in La Romain where they settled for the next 27 years. All six of their children, Joanne, Eion, Richard, Roger, Kathy, and Sharon, were born and raised in Trinidad. In 1986, Joan and Donnell moved to Longwood, Florida, and became parishioners at Annunciation Catholic Church. Eventually, five of their six children settled in Longwood, and Eion settled in Nova Scotia, Canada. Joanie and Pops’ home was always open to visitors, with many of their loved ones living with them for extended periods. After Donnell’s death in 1993, Joan married Paul deVerteuil (Pablo) and moved back to Trinidad to his home, a cocoa plantation, until Paul's death in 2017. They were married for 22 years and during those years, Joanie regularly visited her children and grandchildren in Florida and Canada, never missing a significant moment in any of their lives. She was a devout Catholic with very deep faith, active in the Catholic Charismatic prayer group, and always involved in her local church in Trinidad. Her entire life, Joanie was very close to and loved by her family and extended family of many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc. She was a nonjudgmental and selfless person and was happiest when she was surrounded by her family. Joanie was dearly loved by her children, numerous grandchildren (18), and greatgrandchildren (20), and her legacy lives on in her family and the impact she left on their lives. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, October 30, 1:20 p.m. at Annunciation Catholic Church, 1020 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Private burial to follow. Live Stream: https://youtu.be/1aWPoKKkYx0 A reception to celebrate Joanie's life will be held at 5 p.m.,1120 Scenic Point Road, Longwood, Florida 32750. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to one of the following: LATISHA’S HOUSE In memory of Joanie, to continue her legacy of supporting her family, donations are requested for Latisha's House, a long-term safe house for adult female victims of sex trafficking, offering individualized support to empower them to build a bridge from their traumatic past to a positive future. Joanie's granddaughter is closely affiliated with this safe house. Donate at http://www.latishashouse.com/ - General: Her Future- FL or Checks made payable to Latisha's House Florida, 5087 Edgewater Drive #608205, Orlando, FL 32860 or LIVING WATERS COMMUNITY, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO https://www.lwctt.org/

Joan Marie O'Connor

June 23, 1926 - October 25, 2020