Mary O’Connor (Tosney) completed her earthly journey peacefully at her residence in Ventura, on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Mary Ann was born to Dr. Robert O’Connor and Mary (McMahon) O’Connor in Buffalo, NY. She spent her early years in the idyllic village of Williamsville, NY.
Mary O’Connor was the rock ’n’ roller & Chapter 12 of The Necklace: 13 Women and the experiment that transformed their lives.
Mary received her teaching degree from Daemen College and completed her Master’s Degree at SUNY at Buffalo. She taught at her high school alma mater serving as Chair of the English Department.
In August of 1977, Mary wed William (Bill) Tosney in Williamsville. Engineering employment for Bill was sparse in Western NY, and that was the beginning of the westward trek; Nuclear Engineering in Colorado, led to Petroleum Engineering in Ventura, and finally Aerospace Engineering in Los Angeles.
Mary continued her teaching career at St. Bonaventure High School, Bill commuted to L.A. and their children flourished at Our Lady of the Assumption School and St. Bonaventure High.
In the late 80s, Mary founded Signs Now which she owned and operated for 28 years. The business provided an interface to support many community efforts and charitable non-profits.
Mary was a longtime member and sponsor of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. In 2007, she was inducted into the second class of the St. Bonaventure Hall of Fame in recognition of her dedication and ongoing support of the school. In 2011, Mary was recognized as a Distinguished Alumna of Daemen College in Amherst, NY for her service to the community.
If Mary had an avocation, it was “football fan”. She loved all things football and managed to attend several Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers games as well as 7 Super Bowls. Her true passion, however, was the Friday Night Lights of St. Bonaventure Seraphs Football, which she followed tirelessly.
Mary was an extremely generous individual to both those she knew and didn’t know. She was a dedicated teacher, accomplished business woman, loyal friend, devoted mother and grandmother and cherished wife.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents and the love of her life and husband Bill of 42 years.
A funeral mass to be held on Monday, April 4th at the Mulcahy Center behind Our Lady of the Assumption Church with a graveside service at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura. Arrangements were under the direction of Joseph Reardon Funeral Home.
