Jane O'Brien Obituary

O'Brien, Jane Cahill Dorgan Gorman Passed peacefully on June 26, 2016 in Carmel, CA. Jane was born on February 5, 1919 in LaSalle, IL to Queenabel and James Cahill. She attended St. Mary's College of South Bend, IN. She worked in the Physics and Math departments at the University of Notre Dame. In l947 she married Joe Dorgan and they raised three children in Winnetka, IL. Jane and Joe were active with Sacred Heart Parish, the Christian Family Movement and Jane was a devoted member of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales. After working as a librarian at the Winnetka Public Library, Jane became a Directress at the Ronald Knox Montessori School in Wilmette, IL and taught for fifteen years. As a volunteer for the Hadley School for the Blind, Jane transcribed books to braille. Jane was widowed until she married Bob Gorman and gained four loving stepchildren and became an instant grandmother. After Bob died, Jane moved to Hacienda Carmel in Carmel, CA. She made lifelong friends there and loved her water aerobics workouts. She married John O'Brien and gained two wonderful stepdaughters and their families. Jane enjoyed the Carmelite Monastery and the Carmel Mission. She was a supporter of the World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay and the Panetta Institute Lecture Series. She was an emeritus volunteer guide at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Jane was a beautiful, intelligent, witty, outgoing, courageous and funny Irish lady who enjoyed Notre Dame football games, discussing politics and butter pecan ice cream. She was a loyal friend with a listening heart and a load of wisdom. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Joanie; brother, Jim; son, Tom and husbands, Joe, Bob and John. She is survived by her sister, Mary Denise Canale of Memphis, TN; daughters, Mary Barrett (Dave), of Carmel, Denise Dorgan-Miller (Bob), of Portland, OR; granddaughters, Meghan and Kadee Barrett; grandsons, Casey (Holly) and Cole Miller; stepchildren, Bob (Mariann) Gorman, Nancy (Jim) Bailey, Tom (Jenny) Gorman, Mary Beth Hand, Molly Cody and Anne (Herman) Heggem; cherished stepgrandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. We will miss this magnificent human being and are so blessed to have had her in our lives. Jane's family would like to thank Dr. Hudgens, the staff at The Cottages of Carmel and Hospice of the Central Coast for their wonderful care. There will be a Mass in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Carmel Mission on September 3, 2016 at 11:00 and a Celebration of Jane's Life to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Meals on Wheels in Pacific Grove, CA, the Carmel Mission or the Monterey Bay Aquarium.