WILMINGTON — Nell O’Connor passed from this life on December 10th, following a brief illness. She was born in Olyphant, PA on September 16, 1926 to Benjamin Elnitsky and Anna (Guman) Elnitsky.
She married Dennis O’Connor, Jr in 1949 and raised four children, Sharon DeBragga (Don), Mary Ellen, Dennis III (Wendy), and Brian (Ellen). The family relocated several times with General Electric, moving to Wilmington in 1970.
Nell is survived by her 4 children, 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
A lifelong volunteer, her great passion was as a Girl Scout Leader, leading troops in each place she lived. In addition, she spent many years volunteering with New Hanover Regional Hospital, and the American Cancer Society. She was a 40+ year member of a joint Bridge / Book Club, where she met a wonderful group of women. All would became lifelong friends.
In 1993, at the age of 67, she began taking courses at UNCW. She loved history, and found that taking one course per semester kept her young, and kept her mind active. She eventually started taking two courses per semester, and attending summer sessions, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts in History in 2009 at the age of 83.
Funeral arrangements will be private. She will be buried in her hometown in Pennsylvania, next to her husband.
