Barbara Louise O’Connor, 76, of Lancaster, S.C., passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at home. She was the loving wife, for 54 years, of Timothy “Tim” B. O’Connor.

Barbara was born on August 26, 1946, in Bridgeport, Conn., to the late John J. McCarthy and Jane L. McCarthy. After graduating from Lauralton Hall in Milford, Conn., in 1964, Barbara completed her education degree in 1968 at Mount St Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., where an intercollegiate glee club concert introduced her to Tim; the harmony to her melody.

A longtime resident of Newtown, Conn., Barbara was an active part of her faith community at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Serving as a Eucharistic minister and on multiple committees, Barbara’s kind heart always found a way to connect with people in need. A frequent substitute teacher at St Rose Elementary School and longtime volunteer at the Saint John Paul II Center in Danbury, Conn., Barbara devoted her time to making life better for others.

Google “organizational mastermind” and you will find Barbara’s photo. She is holding a to-do list, written in the neatest handwriting known to man. Before EXCEL spreadsheets, there was Barbara. Her get-it-done superpower was the stuff of legends, keeping soccer teams, cheer-leading squads, and Bluebird Scout Troops running with the precision of a Swiss Watch geared with carpool sign ups, orange slices, and water bottles.

Leaving a part of her heart in Newtown, Barbara and Tim moved to Bluffton, S.C., in 2010 where her love of golf reached new heights while achieving enviably low scores. A queen of the short game, her patience and putts won several tournaments, but no trophy compared to the friendships made on the links.

A diehard Yankees fan, Barbara could recite the starting lineup and kept close tabs on trades. There is speculation Aaron Judge called her for advice before signing his lifetime contract, but we can neither confirm nor deny.

In addition to Tim, Barbara is survived by her three children, Kathryn Elliott and her husband Donald of Waxhaw, N.C., Timothy O’Connor and his wife Kimberly of Potomac, Md., and Karen Kravec and her husband Steven of Newtown, Conn.; and her brother, Robert McCarthy, and his wife, Carol, of Greensboro, N.C.

Barbara’s greatest joys were her eight grandchildren. She loved them as fiercely as they loved their “Nanny,” and each child’s personality is a reflection of her greatest attributes: John Elliott, her quiet strength; Brendan Elliott, her compassion; Grace O’Connor, her empathy; Katie O’Connor, her enthusiasm; Timmy O’Connor, her diplomacy; Patrick O’Connor, her determination; Jack Kravec, her curiosity; and Ethan Kravec, her humor.

Predeceased by her aunt, Ruth L McCarthy, Barbara is undoubtedly being treated to an enormous shopping spree at Heaven’s finest boutiques, followed by a champagne and hot dog lunch with her parents, Jack and Jane.

Friends are invited to celebrate Barbara’s life with the O’Connor family on Wednesday, April 19, at St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, Conn. A calling hour in the church vestibule is scheduled for 10 am, immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am; interment to follow at St Rose Cemetery, Cherry Street, Newtown, Conn.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Barbara’s name can be made to The Caroline Previdi Foundation, PO Box 3482, Newtown, CT 06470; carolineprevidifoundation.org.