Obituary of Masa O'Connell

Masa O'Connell, 104, of West Orange, N.J., formerly of South Orange, N.J. and Hawaii, passed away on Dec. 25, 2017, at Summit Ridge Nursing Home, West Orange. The family will be receiving friends at Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Ave., South Orange, on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., followed by a words of rememberance service at 8:30 p.m. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., Masa was the beloved mother of Jon C. Yamaoka; loving grandmother of John D. Yamaoka and Tara Sullivan, and dear great-grandmother of Hana Yamaoka. She graduated from UCLA in 1939, with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. She resided in West Orange for eight years, and was a personal assistant to the president for many years at Fairfield Maxwell Ltd., New York, N.Y., before retiring. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Andrew and Holy Communion Church, 160 W. South Orange Ave., South Orange, N.J. 07079, would be appreciated. For more information or to send condolences please visit prestonfuneralhome.net.