Cheryl Jean O'Connor

Cheryl Jean O’Connor

September 7th, 1946 - February 5th, 2024

Cheryl was born Cheryl Jean Howard in Akron, Ohio on Sept 7, 1946, to Harold Dean Howard and Jean Isobel Howard. She was the eldest of six children. When Cheryl was young, the family moved from Ohio to the San Gabriel Valley area of Southern California. Cheryl graduated from Arroyo High School in El Monte, CA in 1964.

In 1966, Cheryl met her husband of 53 years, Peter Elton O’Connor, on a blind double-date with her co-worker Karen, and Peter’s brother, Thomas. Cheryl and Peter were wed on Christmas Eve 1966. They settled in Baldwin Park and went on to have three sons. The family later moved to Redlands.

While living in Baldwin Park, Cheryl became an active member of her congregation at the First Presbyterian Church. Cheryl continued on to be an active member of the Yucaipa Presbyterian Church and then later at the Community Presbyterian Church of Redlands.

While raising three children, Cheryl decided to go back to school and in 1985, earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Pitzer College in Claremont, CA. She then earned a master’s degree in psychology at Cal State Fullerton. Soon after, Cheryl became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). For most of her professional career, Cheryl worked for the County of Riverside Mental Health Department. She would tour and assess mental health facilities and centers to make sure they were operating properly and safely.

Cheryl was a voracious book reader, often finishing a novel in a day or less. She loved all kinds of book genres, but especially mysteries and spy novels.

Throughout her life, Cheryl enjoyed a variety of artistic projects, such as painting, scarf dyeing, jewelry making, gardening and flower design. She loved working with bright and beautiful colors.

Cheryl passed away with her family by her side on February 5, 2024, at Redlands Community Hospital. She will always be remembered fondly by her family and friends for all the beauty, joy, love, and color she brought into their lives.

Cheryl is survived by her brother Gary Howard, sisters Bonnie Hart (Bruce), Lee Rehnquist, Lyn Hewlett, and April Rarick, sons Peter (Margaret), Ryan, and Casey (Karen), and grandson Trevor. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Peter.

A viewing will be held at Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel on February 27, 2024, beginning at ten o’clock in the morning, followed by the funeral service at eleven o’clock. A procession to Riverside National Cemetery from Emmerson-Bartlett for the committal service will begin at twelve thirty. The committal service will begin at one thirty in the afternoon.

Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel is located at 703 Brookside Avenue, Redlands, CA 92373.

Riverside National Cemetery is located at 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518

For those unable to attend the funeral service in person, a livestream of the service at Emmerson-Bartlett will be available beginning at 10:45 a.m. via Zoom. Please use the following URL link for the Zoom livestream:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85263197750.

No livestream will be available for the committal service in Riverside.