Mary Grail O'Connor

Mary Grail O’Connor, 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 10, 2025 at Villa Crest Nursing Home after a long period of failing health. Grail was born in Manchester, New Hampshire on April 5, 1940 to Michael and Mary (Healy) O’Connor and she was a lifelong resident of the Queen City. She graduated from OLPH Grammar School in 1954 and from St. Joseph High School for Girls in 1958. Grail continued her education at Boston College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. She also received a master’s degree in Counseling & Guidance from the University of New Hampshire.

Early in her professional career, Grail taught English at Memorial High School, but for most of her years at Memorial, she was a well-respected guidance counselor who worked vigorously for the rights of each student. She spent many years as a building representative for the Manchester Education Association, and she was a larger-than-life advocate for initiating girls’ sports opportunities and extremely influential in helping pass Title IX. In 1999, after 37 years of dedication to education in Manchester, Grail retired.

Grail loved to travel. One of her favorite trips was a summertime cross country trip with some fellow teachers. Learning to put up a tent was a bit of a chore, but by the time the group reached California, they could set up a tent in record time! She was a lifelong adventurer who found great joy in her travels to the Virgin Islands, England, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, and Florida. Her travels also included several trips across the pond to Ireland, where she was lucky to visit “the family homestead” and meet several members of her grandmother’s family. The beach was Grail’s happy place, and she spent as much time as possible every summer on N Street in Happy Hampton, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the ocean at the HOM apartment complex that she owned with her good friends Paul and Marilyn Houghton and Judy McCarthy-Martin. While at the beach, Grail was constantly on the lookout for the best breakfast spot and the sweetest lobster shack.

A great lover of tennis, Grail was one of the original members of the Algonquin Tennis Club. She was an aggressive tennis player with a strong serve followed by a race to the net, surprising her opponents. Grail tried golf but found it too slow. She preferred to race from shot to shot rather than the traditional stroll along.

Although Grail possessed the stubbornness of a true Irishman, she was a woman of strong relationships. Grail honored integrity, friendship, and kindness and loved her Catholic faith. It would be hard to forget her dynamic personality, especially when discussing politics. Whether family, friend or student, all who knew her have a “Grail Tale” to share. She will be sorely missed.

Grail is predeceased by her parents; her brothers Francis, Brendan and John O’Connor; and her sister-in-law Geraldine. She is survived by her nephews Michael O’Connor (Sandra Ryan) and Joseph O’Connor (Karen); her nieces Kathleen Jaworski (Peter) and Maureen O’Connor (Lee LeBlanc); and her great nieces Meghan, Kathryn, Jillian, Elizabeth and Emily. She also leaves behind her long-time friends Irene Cronin, Julie Dempsey, her cousin Mary Panarese (Joe), and her “favorite cousin” Christopher Panarese.

Grail’s family and friends wish to express their gratitude to the many friends who so generously visited Grail and accompanied her to appointments throughout the years, especially Genevieve Soares, Judy Devine, Mary and Joe Panarese, Megan Roukey, and Elise Roy.

Assisting the family with arrangements is Phaneuf Funeral Home, Manchester. Calling hours will be at St. Pius X Church, Candia Road, on Friday, October 17, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. A memorial Mass of Christian Burial, also at St. Pius X Church, will be held at 10 a.m. Interment will follow the mass at the O’Connor family plot at Saint Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities of New Hampshire, P.O. Box 9510, Manchester, NH 03108-9510.