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History 
Since 1898...
The O'Connor Family Has Served Southern California Residents. "Said co-partnership is to commence on the 1st day of October, 1898 and is to continue for five years thence next ensuing." Thus concluded the Partnership Agreement signed by Thomas J. Cunningham & Patrick J. O'Connor on September 12, 1898. That was the formal document that launched the partnership of CUNNINGHAM & O'CONNOR into the world as Funeral Directors in Los Angeles. This was the parent company of the O'CONNOR LAGUNA HILLS MORTUARY. Born in County Clare, Ireland, Patrick J. O'Connor immigrated to the United States at the age of 21, befriended Tom Cunningham and together they established their first funeral home located at Fifth and Main Streets in downtown Los Angeles. The new firm prospered, and in 1906, a new facility was built on Grand Avenue near Olympic Boulevard, in Los Angeles, which was the first building in the United States to be designed and built specifically as a mortuary. Replacing the barn used by the horses to pull the hearse was a new garage for modern automobilies. In the basement, instead of a coal shoot and bin, electrical transformers provided power to heat and light the building. In the office, new writing machines known as "typewriters" replaced pen and ink. The stationary proudly displayed a photo of the building followed by the caption, "Importers of Fine Burial Cases Complete With Irish Linen Interiors."  Thirty-five years later, Joseph A. O'Connor, Sr. had succeeded his father as head of the firm and construction was underway on a new and larger mortuary on West Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles. Opening in May, 1942, this mortuary was recognized as one of the finest and most modern Funeral Homes in America.
Progress throughout the years included opening another Cunningham & O'Connor Mortuary in Hollywood on Melrose Avenue near La Cienega in December of 1950. This served the west side of Los Angeles and was the site of services for many of Hollywood's greatest stars, including Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Bing Crosby and Spencer Tracy. In April of 1960, Joseph A. O'Connor, Jr., grandson of the founder, returned from Navy duty, joined the family business and in 1962 became a managing partner along with Richard Cunningham. June of 1965 saw the expansion of service to the San Gabriel Valley with the opening of the Cunningham & O'Connor Alhambra Mortuary on Garfield Avenue.  The O'Connor family moved to Laguna Niguel in 1975 and construction began on the O'CONNOR LAGUNA HILLS MORTUARY on Alicia Parkway near Paseo de Valencia. Independent from the partnership in Los Angeles, and under the exclusive ownership of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph O'Connor Jr., the new 10,000 square foot mission-style building opened its doors to the needs of Orange County families in January, 1976.
Situated by itself in the midst of wide open spaces, the new building became known as the "little house on the prairie." Cattle and sheep grazed on the surrounding hills, predating today's homes and shopping centers; Alicia Parkway. Ending at Paseo De Valencia, was a two lane road where the O'Connor children played soccer and rode their skateboards in the street. The new facility featured two comfortable, spacious chapels; one with pews for the traditional church atmosphere and the Drawing Room Chapel furnished as a living room for smaller, more intimate services. Tasteful appointments are found in the private offices and selection room. Upstairs is an apartment facility for staff members in order to provide efficient 24-hour service to the community.  For those families which prefer cremation, the building was remodeled in 1990 to accomodate a Crematory. O'CONNOR LAGUNA HILLS CREMATORY is a privately-owned crematory and is not associated with any "Memorial Society." It is reserved only for those families we serve, each on an individual basis.
In the spring of 1996, a second expansion program was completed with the construction of a 4300 square foot building located at the rear of the mortuary. Our advanced planning department and executive offices are located here. The existing Mortuary has undergone an entire refurbishing of the public areas including a new selection room for expanded funeral merchandise. Since the signing of the original partnership agreement in 1898, the O'Connor family is prepared to move into its second century, making it the oldest family owned and operated mortuary in California, providing over 100 years of continuous service. The owners are, Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor, their son, Neil O'Connor and their sons-in-law, Charles Ricciardi, Joseph Fitzgerald and Jeff Turner. 877-872-2736 Anytime
Email: info@oconnormortuary.com |
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