Mary Elizabeth (Gibson) Connor died peacefully at St. John's Home in Rochester at age 86 on Friday, July 30th, two days after the 50th anniversary of the death of her mother Alice (Greene) Gibson. Mrs. Connor, who lived in Caledonia for most of her life, was the widow of Harold H. Connor, a native of Rochester, who died in 1970. Mr. Connor's oldest sister was the late Sister Mary Francesca, who founded Our Lady of Mercy High School in Rochester and was its principal for 30 years. Her brother, Carl Gibson, who was a principal in the West Irondequoit school system for many years, also predeceased Mrs. Connor,

   Mrs. Connor graduated from Caledonia High School in 1930 and from Geneseo Normal School in 1933, after which she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse in the Town of Chili for several years. During the years she was teaching school, she spent weekends with her late Uncle, Dr. William J. Gibson, at his home on Fulton Avenue in Rochester, where he practiced medicine. It was during this time in her life that she met her future husband on a blind date that had been arranged by neighbors of Dr. Gibson, at a Valentine's Day dance at the Brook-Lea Country Club.

   Although she was born in Scottsville, Mrs. Connor lived in Caledonia for 70 years, raising a family of five in the old Gibson/Connor homestead on Main Street in the village, where she lived until 1998. The Gibson/Connor house, built circa 1820, had been the home of her parents and paternal grandparents, dating back to 1871.

   She is survived by her children David (Ann Stanton) of Montpelier, VT, Harold Jr. (Patricia) of East Aurora, John Paul (Sandra) of Williamsville, Gregory (Valerie) of Mumford and Mary Ellen (Tony Hardman) of South Jordan, UT and nine grandchildren. Mrs. Connor is also survived by her sister-in-law, Mrs. Oneita Gibson of Sarasota FL, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.