Mary Venda Wade O’Connor

Ms. Mary Venda Wade O’Connor died Wednesday, December 13, at the Arkansas Health Center in Benton, after a long battle with Huntington’s Disease.

She was born December 27, 1943, in Blytheville, to Robert L. and Margaret Wade.

She was preceded in death by her parents and survived by her sister, Robbie L. Certain (Rev. Robert G. Certain) of San Antonio, Texas; son, Robert S. O’Connor (Tricia) of Conway; niece, Rev. Mary Vano (Stephen) and nephew, Stephen Certain of Little Rock; former husband, Dr. Thomas M. O’Connor Jr. of Jonesboro; two grandsons; two great nephews; and longtime close friend, Margaret (Peggy) Rogers of Thayer, Missouri.

A longtime music educator, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Arkansas State University, where she was the school’s first Chi Omega chapter president. She was a choir director in public schools in north Arkansas and southern Missouri, and taught studio piano lessons.

Her family is deeply grateful to the nurses, physicians, social workers, and staff of the Benton Services Center (Arkansas Health Center) for more than three decades of compassionate care.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 19 at Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until service time at Cobb Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Huntington’s Disease Society of America, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church of Little Rock, or Vietnam Veterans of America. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.