06/06/2023

Obituary for Michael J. Jones

Brother-in-law of Patrick O'Connor, Retired Owner/Funeral Director with Schuster-Straker-O'Connor Funeral Home

Michael J. Jones, age 61. Passed away at his home on June 3, 2023 with family at his side. Beloved son of the late John and Patricia Jones. Cherished brother of Kathi O'Connor (Patrick), and Barbara Jones. Treasured uncle of Patrick O'Connor, Erin Cribbins (Brennan), and Claire O'Connor (Vince Grzegorek). Devoted great uncle to Jimmy and Mary Cribbins. Best friend of Marc Snyder (Ralph). Dear friend and valued coworker to many.

It's here that Michael would likely wave his hand and say that's enough fuss over him. He'd ask about you. He'd make a joke. He'd offer you a drink or snack. But that's who he was: kind, thoughtful, witty, warm, and always thinking about what would be best for others, the host you wish was in charge of every gathering.

Michael had many passions, many friends, many careers, and many travels. And though many compliments can be given, perhaps there's no better than the fact that mothers, a notoriously intuitive bunch, universally adored him. Especially Patti Campana, who he thought of as his second mom.

He graduated from Berea High School in 1980 and was a member of the Meistersingers. He loved music and show tunes, plants and flowers. He took art classes and drew pieces that still hang in his house to this day, which says a lot because his standards, like his gourmet baking and his meachee, were impeccable.

Meachee was a dish invented by Michael that is served at every family affair. (It is so named because it contains meat and cheese.) That was one of the many traditions that he created.

He was the family archivist and historian, harboring details ranging from sentimental to those that one would never need to recall, such as every family car owned from the time he was a baby. He revered all traditions and where none existed he was sure to put one in place.

He had a lifelong love for design and was the de facto consultant for almost every living space those near and dear to him inhabited. He was the funniest person in those rooms, too, with a witty play on words always at the ready. He loved sun-soaked destinations and Disney, where he was a regular season passholder and where he visited with dear friends every chance he got.

He was a realtor at Realty One for more than a decade, and spent nearly 30 years at Pier 1 in various management positions. He treasured his time with coworkers and colleagues that became friends along the way. When Pier 1 shuttered, Michael embraced the chance to reinvent himself at the age of 55. Always full of gratitude and seeking the positives at every opportunity, he leaped at his new career as a United Airlines flight attendant, bringing the same deep care for people and detail to his new adventure as he did all parts of his life. He thrived personally and professionally. Even when it meant briefly living in New Jersey.

Michael loved all holidays (after all, they were occasions for traditions, spending time with family and friends, and baking and cooking for others), but he especially loved Christmas. Every December, he became a one-man Higbee's window display and bestowed gifts ornamentally wrapped with enough care and detail to be fit for a Hallmark Christmas movie. But that was just the start. Packages would likely be incongruous in size to their contents. Once wrapping was torn away, interior boxes often revealed labels for gag gifts. Beneath that, tissue paper that matched the color scheme of the exterior wrapping. Then, the perfect gift. Every layer chosen to delight and surprise, each one selected to bring joy and laughter.

For those who got one or two layers of Michael, their lives were for the better. For those who got deeper, their lives were immeasurably enriched. And for all, a simple wish there was more time with a man too full of love to fully describe and the knowledge that even another 61 Christmases wouldn't be enough.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday June 9, 2023 at 2:00 pm at O'Connor Busch Funeral Home, 5904 Ridge Road Parma. Friends and family may call from noon until the time of service. Interment Woodvale Cemetery. Please no flowers. In lieu, the family suggests contributions in Michael's memory to Give Kids the World Village, an 89-acre, non-profit "story book" resort in Central Florida that provides cost-free resort vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families.