Rev. William Charles “Dutch” O’Connor, C.S.C., 90, died Thursday (July 18, 2013) at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind.
He was born on Dec. 28, 1922, in Milwaukee, to Joseph J. and Ida Marie (Collard) O’Connor. He graduated in 1940 from Pio Nono High School in St. Francis, Wis. Fr. O’Connor was received into the Congregation of Holy Cross on Aug. 15, 1942, and made his First Vows on Aug. 16, 1943. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1945 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He studied theology at Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C. from 1945 to 1949. Fr. O’Connor made his Final Vows on June 9, 1947, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1949.
Fr. O’Connor was assigned as an assistant pastor at St. Patrick Parish, South Bend, Ind., from 1949 to 1952, when he joined the Notre Dame Mission Band in Evanston, Ill. He served there until 1955, when he became assistant pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Burbank, Calif. Fr. O’Connor served as pastor at the church from 1962 to 1976. He took a year of study at Notre Dame from 1976 to 1977, and then was assigned to the Chancery Office (Matrimonial Services Office) in the Diocese of Orange, Calif. In 1982, Fr. O’Connor moved to Casa Santa Cruz, the Holy Cross Community in Phoenix, where he assisted and also worked in the Marriage Tribunal Office for the Diocese of Phoenix. He was assigned as pastor of El Cristo Rey Parish in Grand Canyon, Ariz., from 1986 to 1993, when he became chaplain of St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. Fr. O’Connor returned to St. Francis Xavier Parish to live in 1996. In 2000, he moved for a year to what was then Holy Cross Mission House, Notre Dame. In 2001, Fr. O’Connor moved to Corby Hall at Notre Dame and in 2004 moved to Holy Cross House.
Visitation will be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday (July 21, 2013) at Moreau Seminary, where the Wake service will be at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday (July 22, 2013) at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame.
Fr. O’Connor’s parents and his brother, Joseph, are deceased. Surviving are his sister-in-law, Josephine Anne O’Connor of Roseville, Mich., and a cousin-in-law, Mrs. James (Darlene) O’Connor of Green Bay, Wis.
