Obituary for Andrée T. Connors (Witkege)
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs. Andrée T. (Witkege) Connors, longtime Shrewsbury resident. Passing peacefully on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, 2023 at the age of 85.
Her husband of 58 years, John W. “Jack” Connors, Jr., died in 2019. Andrée is survived by her seven children, Maria C. (Connors) Kaplan and her husband Andrew of Bowie, MD, John W. Connors, III., and his wife Janey of Arlington, VA, Thomas M. Connors of Worcester, Andrew A. Connors of South Barre, MA, Peter J. Connors of Worcester, Nicholas E. Connors of Clinton, and Patrick M. Connors of Shrewsbury; five grandchildren, Julia, Laura, Joseph, Stephen, and Mary; four great-grandchildren, Lucas, Josiah, Madeline and Samuel; a brother, Julian A. Witkege of Oak Island, NC; as well as many nieces, nephews, wonderful friends; and the beloved family dog, Queenie. Beside her husband, Jack, she was predeceased by her parents, a son, Christopher and sister-in-law, Derry.
Born and raised in Worcester, only daughter of the late Julian and Therese (Bourret) Witkege. She graduated from the second class of Notre Dame Academy in 1956. After graduating she had worked as a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone for a few years before she met and married her first love, John “Jack” W. Connors, Jr., in 1961. Together, they raised their loving family in Shrewsbury, the town Andrée was so very proud to call “home”. Throughout the years in Shrewsbury, Andrée served as a Town Meeting Member and you could always find her interacting with the community as a poll worker during elections years.
Andrée was a woman of deep faith. She was a member of Saint Mary’s Parish in Shrewsbury where she was active in its choir and previously held positions on the Parish Council and the Respect Life Committee. She volunteered many hours at Problem Pregnancy and Visitation House both in Worcester and held weekly Rosary Groups at her home. Andrée had several other talents such as: painting, especially in Acrylics, a passion she inherited from her mother; Photography, you could always find a camara in her hand, she became the official family photographer. She also collected Swans, many of them porcelain; others, painted or printed and finally she always had the travel bug; she was over the moon with delight, when she traveled to the Vatican and was blessed to have an audience with Pope John Paul II and he held her hand.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Andrée family on Thursday, June 1, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the BRITTON-SHREWSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 648 Main St, Shrewsbury. Her funeral will be on Friday, June 2, 2023 with a funeral Mass celebrated at 11:00 AM at her beloved Saint Mary’s Church, 640 Main St, Shrewsbury followed by burial at Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury, with her beloved husband Jack.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church (https://stmarysparish.org/weshare) Visitation House (https://visitationhouse.org/donation-options), Problem Pregnancy (https://problempregnancy.org/)
Her husband of 58 years, John W. “Jack” Connors, Jr., died in 2019. Andrée is survived by her seven children, Maria C. (Connors) Kaplan and her husband Andrew of Bowie, MD, John W. Connors, III., and his wife Janey of Arlington, VA, Thomas M. Connors of Worcester, Andrew A. Connors of South Barre, MA, Peter J. Connors of Worcester, Nicholas E. Connors of Clinton, and Patrick M. Connors of Shrewsbury; five grandchildren, Julia, Laura, Joseph, Stephen, and Mary; four great-grandchildren, Lucas, Josiah, Madeline and Samuel; a brother, Julian A. Witkege of Oak Island, NC; as well as many nieces, nephews, wonderful friends; and the beloved family dog, Queenie. Beside her husband, Jack, she was predeceased by her parents, a son, Christopher and sister-in-law, Derry.
Born and raised in Worcester, only daughter of the late Julian and Therese (Bourret) Witkege. She graduated from the second class of Notre Dame Academy in 1956. After graduating she had worked as a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone for a few years before she met and married her first love, John “Jack” W. Connors, Jr., in 1961. Together, they raised their loving family in Shrewsbury, the town Andrée was so very proud to call “home”. Throughout the years in Shrewsbury, Andrée served as a Town Meeting Member and you could always find her interacting with the community as a poll worker during elections years.
Andrée was a woman of deep faith. She was a member of Saint Mary’s Parish in Shrewsbury where she was active in its choir and previously held positions on the Parish Council and the Respect Life Committee. She volunteered many hours at Problem Pregnancy and Visitation House both in Worcester and held weekly Rosary Groups at her home. Andrée had several other talents such as: painting, especially in Acrylics, a passion she inherited from her mother; Photography, you could always find a camara in her hand, she became the official family photographer. She also collected Swans, many of them porcelain; others, painted or printed and finally she always had the travel bug; she was over the moon with delight, when she traveled to the Vatican and was blessed to have an audience with Pope John Paul II and he held her hand.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Andrée family on Thursday, June 1, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the BRITTON-SHREWSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 648 Main St, Shrewsbury. Her funeral will be on Friday, June 2, 2023 with a funeral Mass celebrated at 11:00 AM at her beloved Saint Mary’s Church, 640 Main St, Shrewsbury followed by burial at Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury, with her beloved husband Jack.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church (https://stmarysparish.org/weshare) Visitation House (https://visitationhouse.org/donation-options), Problem Pregnancy (https://problempregnancy.org/)