Obituary of Anna Kali O'Connor
Anna Kali O’Connor was born on February 13, 2001, to her loving parents, Kevin O’Connor and Andrea Axt. At the age of six, she welcomed into her life her stepmother, Therese Smerklo, and stepfather, Chris Brauchle, who—together with her parents and siblings, Sophia and Kevin Jr.—surrounded her with unwavering love, guidance, and support throughout her life. Anna lived in Boonton Township and Denville during her high school years and graduated from Mountain Lakes High School in 2019.
From a young age, Anna valued staying active and found solace in running. Running was often her escape—a time for reflection and renewal. She also loved listening to country music, EDM/club and rap, which often served as the soundtrack to her daily life, and relaxing with her favorite scary movies.
Some of Anna’s most treasured memories were made with her family at their beach house in West Gilgo Beach on Long Island. Summers spent there, surrounded by extended family, reflected some of her happiest times—days filled with love, laughter, and togetherness that will be forever cherished by all who were fortunate enough to share in her life.
Anna had a deep love for animals, which inspired her calling in the field of veterinary medicine. Throughout most of her adult life, her home was always shared with a beloved canine companion. This bond fostered a lifelong passion for dogs and a genuine compassion for all animals. Anna worked for several years as a veterinary technician at animal hospitals throughout the tri-state area and was often featured in social media posts alongside her favorite patients.
In April 2025, Anna was overjoyed when the love of her life and longtime boyfriend, Daniel Perrault, proposed marriage, and she happily accepted. Together, Anna and Daniel shared a love of the outdoors, spending countless hours exploring wooded trails on their ATV. They made their home together in Jefferson, New Jersey, where Anna was living when she tragically and unexpectedly passed away. Though her life was far too short, her love, kindness, and spirit will live on forever.
Anna is survived by her fiancé, Daniel, her father, Kevin and step-mom, Therese, her mother, Andrea and step-dad Chris, her siblings, Sophia and her husband Jack McCaffery, Kevin Jr. and his wife Krysta O’Connor, Christian and Cate Brauchle; her maternal grandmother, “Grammie” Kaliope (the late Robert “Papa”), her paternal grandmother, “GiGi” Jean O’Connor (the late Joseph), as well as a wealth of cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. Anna now joins those who passed before her; her grandfathers, her beloved niece, Kali Rose, and her childhood dogs Kaiser and Lily and her guinea pig Milkshake.
She is also survived by her loving family/future niece, Lilyanna, future siblings-in-law, Austin Perrault and his wife Hanna, and Daniel’s parents, Brent and Wendy Perrault.
If you would like to contribute to Anna’s memory in your own way, please consider making a charitable contribution to a cause that Anna cared deeply about; Real Dog Rescue. Donations can be made via this link, and please select “in memory of’ to ensure that the family will see everyone who is keeping Anna’s light alive! If you do not have a family address, you may list “Norman Dean, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834” and we will notify the family.
Hours of Memorial visitation for Anna are scheduled for Monday, December 22, from 3 to 6 PM at Norman Dean Home for Services, Denville, NJ. All are welcome to come and celebrate the life of this incredible woman, and please share a memory, leave a condolence, or light a candle to continue to let Anna’s light shine!
