Sister Michaela O'Connor

Sister Michaela O’Connor died suddenly and unexpectedly at Washington Hospital in Fremont on November 19, 2025, at the age of 85. She was born in San Francisco on April 17, 1940, to Mary Pritchard and James O’Connor, and entered the Sisters of the Holy Family from St. Timothy Parish in San Mateo on July 2, 1958, at the age of 18.

Sister Michaela served in catechetical minis-try in parishes in the dioceses of San Francis-co, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Jose and Fresno from her beginning days to 1985. She served on the team that produced the Sisters of the Holy Family Constitutions which shape our

lives even now. From 1986 to 1994 Sister worked in the Oakland diocesan office of Catechist Formation. And then she was introduced to the Kmhmu’ community in the Richmond area, and served as the Oakland diocesan Pastoral Center Associate for the Kmhmu’ people from 1994 until 2021, when she was called to elected leadership for the Sisters. Even in congregation-al leadership, she continued part-time in ministry with the Kmhmu’, and stayed connected to them until her death.

Sister Michaela was the community historian and archivist, and she was a storyteller par excellence. Her death is a huge loss and a huge shock to the Holy Family Sisters. She was a joyful presence with a big heart and a big smile. She was witty and intelligent; she was a great writer and artist, and she had a great sense of humor. Genealogical research, both on her own family and the deceased sisters, was her passion, though science fiction and fantasy literature ran a close second!

Sister Michaela’s funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, December 4 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church in Fremont. Burial will take place in the springtime at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.