- Date Of Birth: June 28, 1939
- Date Of Death: May 28, 2021
- State: Arizona
Mary Helen Connors, 81, beloved mother, wife, sister and Nana, passed away Friday, May 28, 2021, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Mary Helen was born to Sidney John Macneil and Helen Irene Tucker on June 28, 1939 in Tucson. She grew up in Marana with her four younger brothers. Her family ran the Pima Mercantile and various businesses in the Marana area. She moved to Scottsdale in 1958, where she and her family became parishioners at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH). In 1961, Mary Helen married Patrick Connors at the OLPH church, and subsequently renewed their vows at the very same church for each of their 25th, 40th, and 50th wedding anniversaries. When her children were of school age, Mary Helen spent her time being the world’s best mom, and working from home doing many jobs, before she began a lifetime of work in education. Over a span of 40+ years, Mary Helen worked at Scottsdale High, Coronado High, Phoenix Country Day School, Kiva Elementary, OLPH, and Empower Academy up until the age of 79. She enjoyed her time volunteering as a docent at the Old Adobe Mission, spending time at St. Peter Indian Mission, walking at Osborn Park in her Peaceful Valley neighborhood, doing 5k races all over the Valley, attending Mass at OLPH, and her greatest joy was spending time just being Nana. Mary Helen was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers (Doug and Robert Macneil), and her husband of 57 years, Pat. Mary Helen is survived by children: Meg (Mel) Connors of Mesa; Shawn (Jackie) Connors of Gilbert; Mike (Sally) Connors of Scottsdale; Cathy Connors of Mesa; and Kelly (Terry) Stewart of Scottsdale; siblings: James Macneil of Mesa; Patrick Macneil of Palm Desert, CA; and her 14 grandchildren, two great-grandsons, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
