Andrea Lea O’Connor

Andrea Lea O’Connor, 43, of Lawrence, died late Monday, January 15, 2018, from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle accident on the Kansas Turnpike in Douglas County.

She was born March 3, 1974 in Parsons, Kansas to Larry L. and Marcia (Bellah) O’Connor. As a young girl, she attended Meadow View Grade School and later moved with her family to Eudora, Kansas. Andrea graduated from Lawrence High School in 1992.

Following high school, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she worked at Earnhardt Ford many years before working as a Customer Service Representative at the Social Security Administration. In 2015, she returned to Lawrence, and was currently working as a Human Resources Assistant for Military Records at the U.S. Coast Guard in Topeka. Being a successful government worker was one of her proudest achievements in life, serving as a Journeyman for Social Security and working for the Coast Guard. She was a dedicated civil servant. Andrea also cared deeply for our military veterans, especially those with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Andrea had a heart bigger than life. She cared more about others than she did herself. Andrea was always willing to help those in need, demonstrated a genuine enthusiasm for her family and friends, and loved pets, especially her Pit bull, Chewy. She was passionate about her Secret Santa campaign giving out sleeping bags to the homeless around the holidays and was comfortable with people from many walks of life. Andrea enjoyed camping, cooking, refurbishing old furniture including picture frames, and doing DIY projects.

Survivors include:

Fiancé – Kevin Polian and his daughters, Khloe and Reece Polian, of Lawrence, KS

Father – Larry O’Connor of Lawrence, KS

Two Brothers – Chris O’Connor and his wife, Ann, of Lenexa, KS; and Jonas Houston and his wife, Sarah, of Dallas, TX

Two Sisters – Lynette O’Connor of Log Cabin, TX; and Jessica Kernz and her husband, Carlos Kernz, Jr. of Abilene, TX

She was preceded in death by her mother, Marcia Houston; maternal grandparents, J.W. “Junior” and Lucille Bellah; and paternal grandparents, Leo and Leona O’Connor.

Memorial services were held Friday, January 26, 2018 in Kansas. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parsons, KS. Another memorial service is being held in Mesa, AZ, at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ on Saturday, February 3 rd at 11 am.

In honor of the life of Andrea O’Connor, the family is requesting in lieu of flowers, donations be made in support of Sleeping Bag Santa. Andrea was very passionate about helping those forgotten, and Sleeping Bag Santa is the cornerstone of her legacy. Andrea dedicated hundreds of hours for many years during the holiday season giving back to humanity and collecting and delivering sleeping bags to the homeless in Phoenix, Arizona. Since moving back Lawrence, Andrea was dedicated to expanding this program and serving a new community. A go fund me page has been established where donations may be left, https://www.gofundme.com/andreas-legacysleeping-bag-santa .