Josephine Bernadette (Abruzzo) O’Connor died on July 25th, 2018 at Apple Coccomo Rehab in Meriden after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She was the daughter of the late Anthony and Anna (Rossito) Abruzzo. She was born in Hartford and attended Hartford schools.

She was a smart, energetic, and kind person who welcomed all with her smile. She worked at Connecticut General Insurance (Medicare Division) in Meriden from 1969 to 1999. In recent years Jo (as she liked to be called) spent many days at the Senior Center where she participated in the Tuesday Art classes. Jo had a flair for her art work and as she always said, “the trees have to be in the ground not stuck on top”. Cooking and baking were a favorite pastime where we could count on homemade tomato sauce for your favorite pasta and Grammy’s fudge for dessert. Jo loved to sing and for several years took part in the Meriden choral group where the Holiday concerts were very special when presented in the First Baptist Church. Family was always first, and she loved her visits with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jo was predeceased by siblings Mary Tolisano, Lee Magaldi, Violet Perkins, Margaret Abruzzo, Norma Bzullak, and Anthony Abruzzo. She is survived by her son William O’Connor and his wife Cheryl, grandchildren Courtney Newcomb and her husband Matthew, Caitlin O’Connor and great grandchildren Joseph and Claire Newcomb and a very special brother-in-law, Michael Bzullak.

The family wishes to thank all the caregivers, nurses and staff who took care of Jo with love and compassion at Apple Coccomo Rehab. As Jo would say, “They are angels of God”.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 9:15 a.m. from the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 East Main Street, Meriden, CT 06450 and at 10 a.m. at St. Faustina Parish, St. Stanislaus Campus for a Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, July 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 38 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854-2328. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.jferryfh.com