Ina M. Conner, age 108, formerly of West Orange and Normandy Beach, died peacefully May 9, 2023, at home in Shrewsbury. She was the youngest and only remaining sibling of seven children born to Neil and Christina MacKinnon, who emigrated from Scotland (Isle of Skye) in the early 1900s and made their home in Kearny.
Ina’s beloved husband, Lewis P. Conner Jr., died in 1985 after 46 wonderful years of marriage. Besides time with family, they both enjoyed experiences with friends, travel, vacations in Sanibel, Florida, and time at Normandy Beach. Both were dedicated members of their church and volunteers at various community service organizations. Though she was devastated by Lew’s untimely death, Ina soon regained her sense of joy. She was also saddened by the death of a granddaughter, Jamie C. Mullins, in 2005.
Those who knew Ina describe her as a woman who was stylish and elegant, knowledgeable about many subjects, joyful and fun, and a remarkable letter writer who was genuinely interested in other people.
Throughout her life, Ina pursued her own program of self-education. She enrolled in classes about design and art; attended lectures about music and opera performances; and researched destinations before traveling. A constant reader, she carried home a bag of library books each week and read them all.
While raising children, Ina volunteered with many organizations such as Girl Scouts, Sunday School at St. Cloud Presbyterian Church, the St. Cloud School Library and the Valley Settlement House. She served more than 5,000 hours with the Auxiliary at Orange Memorial Hospital, later The Hospital Center at Orange. This became a true labor of love when, as co-manager of the hospital gift shop, she was able to use her skills for designing displays, buying products that would appeal to customers, and chatting with shoppers.
Ina was treasured by her four children: Kathy C. Mullins (Williamsburg, Virginia); Christina A. Yockel (Roger) of Little Silver; Laurel C. Brennan (Paul) of Sunriver, Oregon; and Lewis P. “Kip” Conner (Patti) of Manasquan. She lives on in the hearts of many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and acquaintances of all ages who will miss her wise counsel and attentive questions.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 20 at the United Presbyterian Church of West Orange located at 20 Old Indian Road. A reception will follow in the Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers please consider gifts to the United Presbyterian Church of West Orange (upcwo.org) or Pura Syndrome Foundation (purasyndrome.org) to support research that will benefit Ina’s loving great-grandson Pedro.
Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank has been entrusted with the arrangements.
The article originally appeared in the May 25 – 31, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
