Former Hollister resident
Former Hollister resident Vera Grace “Doll” Connor died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002 in Soquel. She was 82.
Mrs. Connor was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., where her voice and love of music led her to sing in nightclubs and resorts throughout New York. She made a record during the early days of the recording industry and during one performance was introduced to another aspiring vocalist, a “singing waiter” named Frank Sinatra.
She married Maurice Connor in Brooklyn in 1942. An Air Force wife for the first 25 years of their marriage, the couple lived in England, Morocco and Spain as well as Texas and California. They came to Hollister in 1968 and her husband, who died in 2001, taught at San Benito High School before the couple moved to Aptos in 1980. They were active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Aptos and enjoyed the beach a few blocks from their home.
Mrs. Connor is survived by her children, Tim, Terry, Mary Lynn and Tod and his wife, Nancy; and 10 grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 11 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church, 7600 Soquel Drive in Aptos. Interment will follow at San Joaquin National Cemetery in Santa Nella.
Arrangements are under the direction of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel in Santa Cruz.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz, P.O. Box 670, Aptos, CA 95001.
