St Charles, Hull, where he had been ordained a priest in July 1957, was packed to the doors for Fr Michael O’Connor’s Funeral Mass on 31st October. Bishop Drainey was the principal concelebrant and he was joined by almost 60 Diocesan priests and Marist Fathers including Fr Dan Cahill who had been Fr Michael’s parish priest at St Patrick’s, Middlesbrough.

The Bishop expressed sympathy from himself and the priests and people of the Diocese to Fr Michael’s niece and nephews and to Kate Grey who had looked after Fr Michael for a number of years. He said he had met Michael a number of times since he came to the Diocese in January, and had been with him a few hours before he died on 25th October. He thanked all the doctors and nurses who had cared for him in his final illness.

Before his death, Michael had chosen the lessons, Gospel reading and hymns for the Mass; the lessons were read by Aidan Cowley, a friend from his Ushaw College days and Rev John Leeman, former Vicar of St Mary’s, Sculthorpe. Rev Deacon Chris Larwood proclaimed the Gospel whilst the homily was preached by Canon Michael Davern who had been a curate with Michael at Corpus Christi, Middlesbrough in the 1950s.

After Bishop Terry’s final commendation, Fr Michael’s coffin was carried out by six Brancardiers followed by a short service at the Crematorium led by Canon Michael Loughlin – in Fr Michael’s last instructions for his funeral, there was a cryptic written request to Canon Michael ‘keep it short’!

Fr Michael’s ashes are to be buried with his parents in Withernsea Cemetery.