James J. O'Hara

It is with great sadness that the daughters of James J. O’Hara (aka “DaddyO”) announce his unexpected death at age 84 of a sudden heart attack.  He passed quickly and peacefully and is now reunited with his loving wife Susan.

James “Jim” was born in Champaign, Illinois on March 26th, 1938, to parents Edward J. O’Hara and Cuba Maine O’Hara (nee Harris), and grew up in the small town of Ivesdale, Illinois.  He graduated from Bement High School in 1956, and later attended Eastern Illinois University, where he met and fell in love with his future wife of 52 years, Sue O’Hara.  Jim worked as an insurance salesman until his retirement.  Jim was a devoted caretaker of his wife for many years until her death in 2019.  

Jim had many friends and was an extremely good listener, compassionate, patient, and was a very kindhearted person.  He enjoyed keeping in touch with his Bement High School classmates and playing in the Senior Fitness Golf League at Valley Green Golf Course (and later Pottawatomi) for approximately 10 years.  Jim had a great sense of humor which will be missed by many, most of all his daughters.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Kelly A. O’Hara and Nancy L. O’Hara, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews across the country.  He was preceded in death by his parents, older sister (Jeanie), older brothers Bill and Paul O’Hara, and his wife, Susan.  He was known as “Grampy” to many fur babies throughout the years.

Visitation will be held 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Moss-Norris Funeral Home, 100 South Thirds Street St. Charles, IL. 

A memorial service will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, November 18, 2022, at Chapelstreet Church 2300 South Street Geneva, IL. Additional visitation time will be from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the church. 

Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, as Jim was a cancer survivor (malignant melanoma) since 1994. In addition to that the family has created a GoFundMe account to raise money to cover funeral expenses.