Funeral information is now available for a 73-year-old Whiting man who died Friday after a vehicle struck him while he was sitting on a bench, police said.
At 9:50 a.m., Joseph O'Connor, 73, was sitting on the bench in front of the Route 530 CVS store when he was struck and killed by a 2012 Subaru Forester wagon.
The wagon was operated by Evelyn Treibly, 76, also of Whiting, police said. O'Connor died as a result of the injuries he sustained from being pinned against the building by the vehicle, police said.
Visiting hours will be Wed 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at The Family Owned Carmona Bolen Home For Funerals, 66 Lacey Road, Whiting, according to legacy.com.
A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday 10:45 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton RC Church, Whiting, according to legacy.com. Disposition will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in O'Connor's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105. Condolences may be sent to www.carmonabolenfh.com, according to legacy.com.
The CVS Pharmacy also sustained damage and was temporarily closed until the Manchester building inspector could conduct an investigation.
O'Connor was born in Jersey City amd lived in Old Bridge for 37 years before moving to Pine Ridge South, Whiting in 2001, according to legacy.com.
He was employed as a Baker for Sunshine Biscuit in Sayreville for 26 years before his retirement in 1999. Prior to that, he worked at Dean Witter and Co. on Wall Street for 14 years, according to legacy.com.
O'Connor was an avid Frank Sinatra fan and collector, and was also an avid collector of anything else that anybody collected. He loved to shoot pool and play cards with his friends, as well as shopping at flea markets, according to legacy.com.
This crash is under investigation by Patrolman Antonio Ellis of the Manchester Traffic Safety Bureau.
RIP Mr. O.. and may God watch over Mrs. O
"... in a nearly brand new vehicle that most couldnt dream of affording in this economy." She was driving a 2012 Subaru Forester, not exactly a top end manufacturer, it's a decent vehicle but not exactly one that people would consider an extravagant purchase or a vehicle that is a head turner. They are considered to be good safe wagons/SUV's but nothing more than that.
maybe if the bench wasn't there nothing bad would have happened other than to the car and the building. maybe in the future, cement posts will be installed in front of areas that will have seating in front of parking spaces.
Eileen, Ray, Kate and Noelle
As in life: there was only one Frank Sinatra in this lifetime of ours there also was only one Joe O’Connor. Joe It was an honor to know you. There will never be a time went I hear a Sinatra Song, that I will not think of you. I worked with Joe in Sunshine biscuits for 26 years. Joe was a true friend of mine in every sense of the word. I used to get a kick out of how much he loved Frank Sinatra. There was a time when Sinatra was playing at Carnegie hall in the NYC and my wife was given by a friend who was sick at the time, 4 tickets to see him. I gave up my ticket for Joe. Joe went with my wife and her mother and father. My wife said that they keep walking down to the front the stage and Joe kept saying “there must be a mistake we are to close” but there was no mistake he was four rows from the stage. Joe kept on telling my wife I think he’s looking at us. Little did he know till the lights came on that to his left three seats down from him was Frank Sinatra wife Nancy, sitting there. When I think back on it now on how it was a once in a lifetime event for Joe it still makes me happy. God bless you Joe, till we meet again on the other side.
Are you going to Visiting Wednesday. I'll be in the afternoon with Walter. L
If the bench was not in place where it was, the man sitting on the bench would still be alive, but the cashier on the other side of the wall would probably be dead. However, the cement posts are an extremely good idea, as they could have prevented the whole thing.