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September 29, 2026
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 3-7 PM on Monday, October 5, 2026 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A 10 AM Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Interment will be held 12:30 PM on Tuesday at the Belvidere Cemetery, 161 Pequest Road, Belvidere.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Netherlands Reformed Christian School, 164 Jacksonville Road, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 or the Christian Health Care Center, 301 Sicomac Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481 would be greatly appreciated.
William “Bill” J. O’Connor, age 88, of Belvidere, passed Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
He was born to William and Dorothy O’Connor in Paterson and raised at the family home on North Main Street and attended Central High School with the Class of 1956.
Bill’s work ethic was something he learned early in life, and it began with his dad. His father worked for Morrison Machine in Paterson, and one morning he simply told Bill to get ready for work. Bill did as he was told, and that morning marked the beginning of a twenty-year career with Morrison Machine – a manufacturer of specialized textile machinery. Bill truly enjoyed working alongside his father and especially treasured the simple moments they shared, including those occasions when the two of them could sit down together and enjoy a cup of coffee. Those were the moments that meant the most to Bill—not just working with his dad, but having the opportunity to spend time together.
When Morrison Machine eventually closed, Bill took his experience and entrepreneurial spirit in a new direction, starting his own business cleaning and filing clips used in the textile manufacturing industry. It was hard work and often meant giving up his weekends, as Bill would work Saturdays and Sundays to make sure the textile machines were ready to go when Monday morning arrived. He later joined the Hawthorne Board of Education, where he worked in repairs and maintenance, taking pride in keeping the schools and their facilities in good working order.
Bill was never particularly interested in retirement. He enjoyed being busy, having a purpose, and going to work, so he probably would have kept working for quite some time. But on November 30, 2005, his working days came to an end—perhaps not entirely by his own choosing. His wife had planned a cruise that was scheduled to leave the very next day, December 1, and she gave Bill a choice he really couldn’t ignore: “If you don’t go with me, I’ll find someone else who will.” Bill apparently decided that retirement was the wise choice after all. And so, after a lifetime of hard work, Bill retired and headed off on his first day of retirement with his wife aboard a cruise ship.
Bill was, above all else, a kindhearted soul who had a genuine gift for making people feel welcome and loved. He was a friend to everyone he met, and his warm and caring nature made him especially beloved by children. To so many of them, he wasn’t simply a friend of the family—he was “Uncle Bill.” It was a title he wore proudly and one that reflected the special place he held in the hearts of those who knew him.
Bill and his beloved wife, Dien, shared a wonderful love of travel and adventure. Together, they visited all fifty states, often renting motor homes and setting out to discover another part of the country. Their travels gave them countless stories and memories, but for Bill, the greatest joy was always having Dien by his side.
Bill also carried on a family tradition through his involvement with the Hawthorne Lions Club, where he was a member for many years. His father had been a member before him, making the organization another meaningful connection between father and son.
Perhaps the best way to describe Bill’s lasting impact comes from one of his nieces, who beautifully said, “He leaves behind a lifetime of the best memories for me. He was a constant in all our lives and loved dearly.” Those words capture the essence of Bill—a steady and loving presence whose kindness, friendship, laughter, and unconditional love became woven into the lives of so many. He will be deeply missed, but the memories he created will remain a cherished part of his family’s story for generations to come.
On January 10, 1980, Bill married Everdina “Dien” Nieuwenhuis in the living room of her parents’ home in Wyckoff. Their marriage was built on a deep and genuine love for one another, and throughout the years, Bill and Dien were happiest simply being together. They shared life’s everyday moments as well as countless adventures, always enjoying each other’s company. Theirs was a true partnership and a loving marriage that remained strong through the years, marked by devotion, companionship, and the simple joy of having one another by their side.
Bill is survived by his wife of forty-six years Everdina “Dien” O’Connor; he was the devoted father of Patrick O’Connor of East Providence, RI, Mary Darnstead and her husband Darrin of Allamuchy, and Sean O’Connor of Camden, ME; he was the cherished uncle to several nieces and nephews; he was also the loved brother-in-law to : the late Edward Nieuwenhuis and his surviving wife Lois of Pompton Plains, Garret Nieuwenhuis and his wife Florence of Wyckoff, Neal Nieuwenhuis and his wife Janet of Everett, WA, the late Grad and Allen Wheeler, and Rich Nieuwenhuis and his wife Trudy of Belvidere.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family from 3-7 PM on Monday, October 5, 2026 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A 10 AM Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Interment will be held 12:30 PM on Tuesday at the Belvidere Cemetery, 161 Pequest Road, Belvidere.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Netherlands Reformed Christian School, 164 Jacksonville Road, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 or the Christian Health Care Center, 301 Sicomac Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481 would be greatly appreciated.
September 29, 2026
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 3-7 PM on Monday, October 5, 2026 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A 10 AM Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Interment will be held 12:30 PM on Tuesday at the Belvidere Cemetery, 161 Pequest Road, Belvidere.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Netherlands Reformed Christian School, 164 Jacksonville Road, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 or the Christian Health Care Center, 301 Sicomac Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481 would be greatly appreciated.
William “Bill” J. O’Connor, age 88, of Belvidere, passed Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
He was born to William and Dorothy O’Connor in Paterson and raised at the family home on North Main Street and attended Central High School with the Class of 1956.
Bill’s work ethic was something he learned early in life, and it began with his dad. His father worked for Morrison Machine in Paterson, and one morning he simply told Bill to get ready for work. Bill did as he was told, and that morning marked the beginning of a twenty-year career with Morrison Machine – a manufacturer of specialized textile machinery. Bill truly enjoyed working alongside his father and especially treasured the simple moments they shared, including those occasions when the two of them could sit down together and enjoy a cup of coffee. Those were the moments that meant the most to Bill—not just working with his dad, but having the opportunity to spend time together.
When Morrison Machine eventually closed, Bill took his experience and entrepreneurial spirit in a new direction, starting his own business cleaning and filing clips used in the textile manufacturing industry. It was hard work and often meant giving up his weekends, as Bill would work Saturdays and Sundays to make sure the textile machines were ready to go when Monday morning arrived. He later joined the Hawthorne Board of Education, where he worked in repairs and maintenance, taking pride in keeping the schools and their facilities in good working order.
Bill was never particularly interested in retirement. He enjoyed being busy, having a purpose, and going to work, so he probably would have kept working for quite some time. But on November 30, 2005, his working days came to an end—perhaps not entirely by his own choosing. His wife had planned a cruise that was scheduled to leave the very next day, December 1, and she gave Bill a choice he really couldn’t ignore: “If you don’t go with me, I’ll find someone else who will.” Bill apparently decided that retirement was the wise choice after all. And so, after a lifetime of hard work, Bill retired and headed off on his first day of retirement with his wife aboard a cruise ship.
Bill was, above all else, a kindhearted soul who had a genuine gift for making people feel welcome and loved. He was a friend to everyone he met, and his warm and caring nature made him especially beloved by children. To so many of them, he wasn’t simply a friend of the family—he was “Uncle Bill.” It was a title he wore proudly and one that reflected the special place he held in the hearts of those who knew him.
Bill and his beloved wife, Dien, shared a wonderful love of travel and adventure. Together, they visited all fifty states, often renting motor homes and setting out to discover another part of the country. Their travels gave them countless stories and memories, but for Bill, the greatest joy was always having Dien by his side.
Bill also carried on a family tradition through his involvement with the Hawthorne Lions Club, where he was a member for many years. His father had been a member before him, making the organization another meaningful connection between father and son.
Perhaps the best way to describe Bill’s lasting impact comes from one of his nieces, who beautifully said, “He leaves behind a lifetime of the best memories for me. He was a constant in all our lives and loved dearly.” Those words capture the essence of Bill—a steady and loving presence whose kindness, friendship, laughter, and unconditional love became woven into the lives of so many. He will be deeply missed, but the memories he created will remain a cherished part of his family’s story for generations to come.
On January 10, 1980, Bill married Everdina “Dien” Nieuwenhuis in the living room of her parents’ home in Wyckoff. Their marriage was built on a deep and genuine love for one another, and throughout the years, Bill and Dien were happiest simply being together. They shared life’s everyday moments as well as countless adventures, always enjoying each other’s company. Theirs was a true partnership and a loving marriage that remained strong through the years, marked by devotion, companionship, and the simple joy of having one another by their side.
Bill is survived by his wife of forty-six years Everdina “Dien” O’Connor; he was the devoted father of Patrick O’Connor of East Providence, RI, Mary Darnstead and her husband Darrin of Allamuchy, and Sean O’Connor of Camden, ME; he was the cherished uncle to several nieces and nephews; he was also the loved brother-in-law to : the late Edward Nieuwenhuis and his surviving wife Lois of Pompton Plains, Garret Nieuwenhuis and his wife Florence of Wyckoff, Neal Nieuwenhuis and his wife Janet of Everett, WA, the late Grad and Allen Wheeler, and Rich Nieuwenhuis and his wife Trudy of Belvidere.
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