JOHN PATRICK O’REILLY, the son of THOMAS O’REILLY and MARY MULLIGAN, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, was educated in Cootehill, County Cavan and was apprenticed to a baker. He immigrated to New Orleans in 1853, where he and Honora married in 1857. Aside from the time he served in the Confederacy during the Civil War, he lived the rest of his life in New Orleans, employed as a baker. In 1872 he acquired a position with the St. Charles Hotel, working as the baker there until the time of his tragic death while trying to escape the fire that destroyed the hotel. He was reputed to be "one of the most skillful men in his line" of work (quoted from the hotel night clerk, Col. Mason, in the news coverage of the event - New Orleans Item, 29 Apr 1894, pg 8).
John was initially interred in St. Patrick Cemetery. After Honora's death, his remains were re-interred in Metairie Cemetery, along with Honora, in the newly acquired plot that their youngest daughter Loretto (aka Loretta) had purchased in late 1913 as a family burial plot.
John was initially interred in St. Patrick Cemetery. After Honora's death, his remains were re-interred in Metairie Cemetery, along with Honora, in the newly acquired plot that their youngest daughter Loretto (aka Loretta) had purchased in late 1913 as a family burial plot.
JOHN PATRICK O’REILLY, the son of THOMAS O’REILLY and MARY MULLIGAN, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, was educated in Cootehill, County Cavan and was apprenticed to a baker. He immigrated to New Orleans in 1853, where he and Honora married in 1857. Aside from the time he served in the Confederacy during the Civil War, he lived the rest of his life in New Orleans, employed as a baker. In 1872 he acquired a position with the St. Charles Hotel, working as the baker there until the time of his tragic death while trying to escape the fire that destroyed the hotel. He was reputed to be "one of the most skillful men in his line" of work (quoted from the hotel night clerk, Col. Mason, in the news coverage of the event - New Orleans Item, 29 Apr 1894, pg 8).
John was initially interred in St. Patrick Cemetery. After Honora's death, his remains were re-interred in Metairie Cemetery, along with Honora, in the newly acquired plot that their youngest daughter Loretto (aka Loretta) had purchased in late 1913 as a family burial plot.
John was initially interred in St. Patrick Cemetery. After Honora's death, his remains were re-interred in Metairie Cemetery, along with Honora, in the newly acquired plot that their youngest daughter Loretto (aka Loretta) had purchased in late 1913 as a family burial plot.
Inscription
Sacred to the Memory of Our Father John P. O'Reilly and Our Mother Honora G. O'Reilly
Gravesite Details
Click on the photo of the plot for a complete list of interments here. Note that there is also a Cenotaph memorial for John Patrick O'Reilly (St. Patrick Cemetery) #132568879.
