Wilda R. (Lightman) O'Mara

Wilda R. O’Mara of West Main St., Cortland died on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at the age of 91.

The daughter of the late John and Clara Lightman, she was born on September 18, 1932, in West Virginia. Her family moved to Ambridge, Pennsylvania when she was five years old in search of work during the Great Depression. She started working at a retail store when she was 14. She loved to travel and working allowed for her to do that.

While visiting her youngest sister, Elvie, whose husband was in the Air Force and stationed in Illinois, she met the love of her life on a blind date in 1961. Thomas O’Mara was in the Air Force and was a bachelor with two young children when they met. They were married on April 28, 1962, and were married for 55 years before Tom’s passing in August 2017. She was a military wife, and their third child, Kellyann, was born while Tom was stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. For the first 12 years of their marriage, they were stationed in Illinois, Arizona, Rome, NY and then for Tom’s last tour, Okinawa, Japan. They settled in his hometown of Cortland when he retired from the Air Force. She spent the last 50 years of her life in Cortland, NY.

Wilda worked part-time while the children were growing up and took a full-time job at the Department of Social Services and for the next 23 years worked as an Account Clerk. She retired along with Tom in December 1999. Some of her most cherished memories were spent traveling with her husband to all 50 States, going on many cruises and their very special trip to Ireland. They did everything together, so you rarely saw one without the other. It was a true and timeless love. The family is comforted knowing that she is reunited with her beloved Tom in Heaven.

With a strong faith in God, Wilda dedicated her life to her husband Tom, her children, grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church. She loved being a mother, grandmother, and Gigi. She was a beautiful person who was loving and kind to all. She was well loved by her family, and she always said she was very blessed to have them in her life. She had a competitive spirit and loved playing cards at the Senior Center. She also loved watching football and refused to cook on Sundays while the games were on!

Wilda is survived by her three children, Robert J. O’Mara of San Antonio, Texas, Shawna Robbins Shaffer (Jim) of Haslet, Texas and Kellyann O’Mara (Joseph Convertini) of Cortland, four grandchildren, Chad (Sara) Robbins, Victoria (Mark) Kanellis, Julia Convertini and Sophia (fiancé Michael Sellars) Convertini along with three great-grandchildren, Joey, Mia and Jack Thomas. Sister-in-law, Alana O’Mara and several nieces, nephews, cousins and Godson, David Schlenker.

Wilda was predeceased by her parents and nine siblings: John Jr., Ethel, Elouise, Edward, Elfreda, Everett, Evelyn, Eugene & Elva. Also by her husband’s siblings: Joan, Jane and Andrew.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 in St. Mary’s Church, Cortland, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Joseph Zareski. Interment in Arlington National Cemetery will be at the convenience of the family.

The O’Mara family will receive friends and relatives from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Donald L. Barber Funeral Home, 5016 US Route 11, Homer.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. O’Mara’s memory may be made to St. Mary’s School, 61 N. Main St., Cortland, NY 13045, the Homer Elks, 82 Cortland St., Homer, NY 13077 or the Cortland Public Education Foundation, 1 Valley View Dr., Cortland, NY 13045.

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