[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 6 (Tuesday, February 1, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          HELEN O'CONNOR HONORED FOR CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______


                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 1994

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to pay tribute today to Mrs. 
Helen O'Connor as she ends a lifetime of service to the people of 
Luzerne County, PA. On January 23, 1994, the community will gather to 
honor Mrs. O'Connor as she retires from a 32-year career as Register of 
Wills.
   Widowed at age 40 in 1958, Helen found herself the single parent of 
10 children in an era when women rarely ventured into the workplace; 
let alone into the male-dominated world of politics. However, her life 
with her actively Democratic husband, attorney Patrick O'Connor, helped 
her prepare for what would become her life's work. Mrs. O'Connor was 
appointed by then-Gov. David Lawrence to the vacant post of Luzerne 
County Register of Wills. She made history by being the first woman to 
ever hold that position. In 1961, local Democratic leaders urged Helen 
to seek election to a 4-year term. Eight consecutive terms later, Helen 
is gracefully stepping down from her career in public service.
  As though raising 10 children alone while pursuing a career in public 
service were not accomplishment enough for Helen, she donates her time 
and energy to a long list of organizations. While her public 
accomplishments are well documented, Helen would probably say that her 
greatest source of pride is that all of her children are college-
educated professionals with successful careers and happy lives. Helen 
boasts proudly of her 41 grandchildren and plans on spending much of 
her retirement with them. The pro-life is also on Helen's retirement 
agenda and is a cause close to her heart.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate Mrs. Helen O'Connor on an 
outstanding and unprecedented career in public service. Her personal 
and professional accomplishments merit the high praise and appreciation 
which her colleagues, friends and community bestow upon her today.

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