Born in Cleveland, O'Connor moved to the Los Angeles area when she was 17 to attend college. Soon after marrying Norman Carroll O'Connor, a circus ringmaster, in 1945, she became the first female press agent under the big top of the Clyde Beatty, Cole Bros. and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circuses. While serving in that position, O'Connor famously lost eight elephants on Hollywood Boulevard.
During the 1970s, she handled the advertising for many early London and Broadway shows in Los Angeles, such as "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "The Rocky Horror Show." O'Connor also founded and was president of The Carrolls Agency, one of Hollywood's top advertising and public relations firms before it closed in 1980.
She is survived by her son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.