Joan Reilly O’Neil, 87, a longtime resident of Newtown, died August 30, at her home, The Delaney at South Shore in League City, Texas. Born in 1930 in Port Chester, N.Y., she was the daughter of Michael and Cecile Reilly.

Mrs O’Neil grew up in Rye, N.Y., and graduated from Rye High School. She worked in retail and human resources for several years while she and her husband, Jerry, raised their family. While living in Newtown, she was very active in the General Federation of Women’s Club, American Red Cross Blood Bank, Newtown Garden Club, and Meals on Wheels. She was once selected as Volunteer of the Year in the American Red Cross in Connecticut.

For the last six years, while living in Texas, Mrs O’Neil was a member of St Mary Catholic Church.

During their 66 years of marriage, Jerry’s career — which included the US Marine Corps and FBI — led them to make their home in several locations around the country, including Maryland; Michigan; New York; Connecticut; Pennsylvania; and most recently, Texas. She was always extremely proud to tell everyone she met that Jerry had a career as a Special Agent in the FBI.

Her loving husband, Robert “Jerry” O’Neil; her children and their spouses, Julie and Owen Duvall of Clive, Iowa, Robert and Kathy O’Neil of Duncan, S.C., Beth and Henning Kornbrekke of Rio Verde, Ariz., and Matthew and Melanie O’Neil of League City, Texas; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews survive her. Her loved ones say she dedicated her life to her family with great love.

Her parents, Michael and Cecile Reilly; and her siblings, Matthew “Skip” Reilly; Anne Reilly White; and Joseph Reilly, who died at birth, predeceased her.

Funeral services will take place Wednesday, September 5, at 10 am, at St Mary Catholic Church in League City, Texas, on what would have been her 88th birthday. Interment will be at a later date at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Dickinson, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services, PO Box 17090, Baltimore MD 21297 or online at crs.org.

The Newtown Bee September 7, 2018