GLENS FALLS – Carol Ann (Braydon) O'Connor, 74, a long time resident of Crandall St. in Glens Falls, passed away Saturday evening, Jan. 10, 2015, in Glens Falls Hospital with her loving family at her side, after an unexpected illness at home.

Born in Glens Falls, on October 12, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin C. and Mary F. (Flanagan) Braydon. She grew up on Big Cross St. in Glens Falls and was a student at Big Cross St. elementary and graduated from Glens Falls High School, Class of 1958.

On October 14, 1961, Carol married Michael J. O'Connor in St. Mary's Church in Glens Falls, at which her two cousins, Fathers Tom and Bill Flanagan officiated.

Carol went to work while still a junior in high school, at the former A. & P. grocery store on South St. in Glens Falls. It was while working there that she was married and five years later her twin daughters were born. She returned to the A. & P. for a short while and then became a stay at home mom to raise the girls. Her husband's work then took the family to Auburn, NY where their son was born. From there, they moved to Corning, NY and lived there for seven years. While living in Corning, Carol got interested in ceramics and after a time of study, became a certified ceramic instructor, working with her two neighbors creating and displaying her works. Carol was quite handy with her little brushes and as life went on, enjoyed picking them up from time to time to create other items. She was most proud of her very large Nativity set which is displayed each year at this time.

Upon returning to Glens Falls in 1976, Carol went to work for the Broad St. Price Chopper and worked there for several years until accepting the position of full time religious education coordinator at St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic parish on Broad St. in Glens Falls. After nearly 15 years in that position she accepted the post of religious education coordinator at St. Michael the Archangel parish in South Glens Falls and remained in that position for ten years, retiring when the former pastor, Rev. Robert A. Nugent retired, nearly seven years ago. Carol loved the children in the religious education programs and saw nearly 25 years worth of families go through the various programs. Countless times while out and about, someone would invariably come up to her and ask, "Do you remember me, Mrs. O'Connor?" Her memory was good enough that ninety nine times out of 100, she would truly remember that person.

Family was uppermost in Carol's heart and mind, always trying to attend the latest event in which her children were involved, and now later in life, with grandchildren also. She never traveled a great deal, but when she did, she loved it. When two of her children were living in Texas and California respectively, heading off to visit them was a pure joy for her. The night she passed away, one of her daughters said to remember to tell the world that she was the best Grandma, ever. So world, consider yourself told, in no uncertain terms. No one in the family can ever remember a time when Carol ever said no to a request for a favor for a son, daughter or grandchild. Her love of family, and always being there was one of the main reasons for her existence. Birthdays for both adults and kids were always held at Grandma's house, along with Christmas, Easter, St. Paddy's day and all the other family festivities one can think of. As the family grew so did the number of chairs around the big dining room table. Carol was, to say the least, a phenomenal cook, and all the meals were prepared with love and other things that will go unmentioned here. At every gathering, Carol's husband Mike, would always invoke Carol's father-in- law's favorite Irish expression, "Eat up everyone, there's more here than what will be left!"

Carol was a firm believer in being an active Catholic, not just a pew Catholic. She loved her faith and was a Eucharistic Minister and Lector at both St. Alphonsus and St. Joseph's. She ministered each week at Fort Hudson Nursing Home in Fort Edward with a group of her special friends from St. Joseph's parish and we would be remiss if we did not mention her Monday morning bible group with another bunch of very special friends at Shirley's house. This group had met for many years and Carol was extremely faithful to her Monday morning schedule. She always said these gatherings on Monday morning were a very special part of her week.

Reading consumed much of Carol's time and when not having a book or her kindle in hand, she would be doing cross-word puzzles. She was quite good and, along with family, it was a passion for her. Later in life, when she discovered the fun of her laptop, cross-word puzzles and computer games were a huge part of her relaxing hours. After she retired, laptop and coffee in hand was her way to start her day.

Carol was predeceased by her parents, Benjamin C. and Mary F. Braydon; her mother and father-in-law, Maurice D. and Catherine M. O'Connor; her brother, John H. Braydon, and her brother-in-law, Robert M. Allen.

Carol is survived by her loving husband of over 53 years, Michael J. O'Connor; the former long time fourth ward county supervisor, twin daughters, Catherine Mary (O'C) Billus and her husband, Gregory of Queensbury; Kerry Ann (O'C) Corsones and a son, Timothy Michael O'Connor and his wife Erin, all of Glens Falls. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Erin M. Corsones, Conor B. Corsones, and Spencer J. Williams, also, all of Glens Falls; three sisters, Julia A. Stewart of Murfreesboro TN, Mary E. Allen, of Queensbury, and Susan K. Sallarullo and her husband Patrick, of Norcross, GA, a brother, Andrew Braydon of Wisconsin, and a sister-in-law, Helen R. Braydon of Queensbury.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home on 11 Lafayette St. in Queensbury, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015.

To sign the on-line guest book, please visit www.bakerfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested any remembrance of Carol to take the form of a donation to St. Joseph's Church, 164 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph's Church, 164 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY on Wednesday Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Thomas Babiuch, Pastor and Deacon William F. Bazinet, presiding.

Burial will be in St. Mary's cemetery in the spring.