Jane Elizabeth (McCarthy) O’Connor, 79, of Watertown, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Patrick, 212 Main Street, Watertown. Visiting hours will be held in St. Patrick’s Church on Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
Born in Brighton, Jane was the cherished daughter of the late Henry F. McCarthy, Jr. and Mary E. (Ford) McCarthy. Raised in Watertown, she graduated from Rosary Academy and in 1964, answering a call to faith and service, Jane entered the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Kentucky, where she served for six years.
Jane devoted her professional life to Catholic and public education. She taught at the Coolidge, Hosmer, and Cunniff Elementary Schools in Watertown, earning a reputation for compassion, discipline, and an unwavering belief in every child’s potential. She later served as principal of the Cunniff Elementary School and Watertown Middle School. After her years in Watertown, she became Head of School at Mother Caroline Academy in Dorchester, where she championed faith-based education and opportunity for young women. Across decades of leadership, she mentored faculty, supported families, and shaped generations of students.
In her retirement, Jane continued her mission internationally, helping to establish the Maranyundo Girls School in Rwanda, traveling there more than 25 times, where she worked to ensure a strong and sustainable educational foundation. She built lasting relationships within the community and considered this work among the most meaningful of her life.
Over the years, Jane opened her home and heart to foster children, providing them with love, stability, and a lifelong family.
For three decades, through the Paulist Center in Boston, Jane prepared and served meals to people experiencing homelessness as part of the Wednesday Night Supper Club.
Jane’s lifelong commitment to service was honored with the Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice, recognizing her unwavering dedication to advancing dignity, expanding opportunity, and living her faith through compassionate action.
Above all, Jane’s greatest joy was her family. She was the beloved mother of James O’Connor, Jr., Chief of the Stoneham Police Department, and his wife Danielle of Watertown; Elizabeth O’Connor and her husband Andrew Boroff of Ipswich; and Erin Macomber and her husband Gregg of Watertown. She was a devoted and adoring “Mimi” to James and Katelyn O’Connor; Sarah and Luke Boroff; and Emma, Morgan, and Julia Macomber. They were the light of her life, and she cherished every moment spent loving, guiding, and celebrating them.
Jane was the former wife and lifelong friend of James O’Connor, Sr. She was the dear sister of Kathleen Duffy, Pauline McCarthy, Henry McCarthy III, Richard McCarthy, and Daniel McCarthy. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.
For the past five years, Jane courageously battled ALS, meeting its challenges with grace, resilience, and a spirit that inspired everyone around her.
She will be remembered for her deep faith, tireless dedication to education, and boundless love for her family. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched as a teacher, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.
In lieu of flowers memorials in Jane’s memory may be to Compassionate Care ALS P.O. Box 1052 West Falmouth, MA 02574 or at www.ccals.org or to the The Maranyundo Girls School https://www.maranyundo.org
Mary, Mike, and I are saddened to hear of Jane’s passing. We remember her as a kind and thoughtful person; a wonderful elementary teacher, and later Principal of the Cunniff School. She was a role model for her children and the many students she taught. After retirement, she spoke about her work supporting girls’ education in Rwanda. It was clear how meaningful that service was to her, and reflects her compassion for others.
My son was one of the fortunate ones who had Jane for a teacher. She was kind and compassionate. She taught “the whole child,” understanding that getting to know and support her students and their families helped bring out the best learning outcomes for the children that she taught.
I am sorry to hear that her later years were so difficult, but knowing Jane, she handled this too with strength and grace. My condolences go out to her family and friends. Her loss is a tremendous one.
This is so sad. She was a lovely woman and a wonderful educator.