Happy Birthday Chris O’Connell

Chris O’Connell is a spry 84 year old who is known to friends and family around Austin, Texas as the “Cookie Lady” for the 47 varieties of cookies she has baked for years.  While her baking has slowed down in the last few years, she keeps occupied by solving Wonder Word puzzles.  Her children have bought her every published WONDERWORD book and she continuously asks for more.  She is battling Alzheimer’s and she loves to keep her mind active with solving the puzzles and playing card games.  So, we have bought older versions which she has previously solved because she figures she won’t remember solving them anyway!

Chris is a graduate of the University of Texas and retired from long service to the University as the chief purchasing officer for the student dormitories.  She misses her husband of more than 60 years, E.P., who passed away in 2009.  She is most proud of her four children (all of whom are college graduates and live near her in Austin) and her nine grandchildren.  Her kids wanted her to have this puzzle for her birthday in December, but we have run out of other puzzle books!  So, this is an early birthday present for her 85th.   Happy Birthday, Chris (aka Nanma, Nanmama, and Memaw).