Mary O’Neil, of Bristol, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving children at age 88 on Tuesday, Nov. 8, which happened to be Election Day. For the past 30 years, she could be found working at various Bristol polling locations on that day. Mary Louise Mills was born in Milton, Mass. on Feb. 23, 1934, to parents Helen (Coleman) and Richard Mills, Sr. She was predeceased by her parents, her older sister Dorothy Scanlon and older brother, Richard Mills.
Mary was the loving wife of the late Francis Eugene O’Neil who passed away in 2008. He was the love of her life, and they were together for nearly 50 years of wedded bliss.
She is survived by her son Francis (“Bud”) O’Neil and his wife Cathy of Bristol and their two sons, Trevor and Sean, as well as her three daughters and their families: Margery and John Brannigan of Wethersfield, and their children Judith and Billy Brannigan; Atty. Patricia O’Neil and her spouse Timothy Buckley of West Hartford and their daughters Maura Loomis (Brian) and Shannon Buckley; and Elizabeth Perella of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and her children Madison, Lindsay, Coleman, Regan and Charlotte Perella. She is also survived by younger sister Barbara Tosi of Dover, Mass., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
While raising her children, Mary was involved in many Bristol civic and church organizations and served for many years as President of the St. Matthew’s Guild of the Blessed Sacrament and President of the Bristol Women’s Club. She and her husband were extremely active in the Bristol Republican town committee. Employed over the years at JC Penney, Motorlease Corporation, and the O’Neil Law Firm, she retired in 1998 to spend more time with her husband and 11 grandchildren. She was a passionate supporter of her grandchildren’s sporting events, music performances, dance recitals, and school activities. She was also a faithful communicant of St. Matthew Church for more than 60 years.
The family would like to thank Nancy Manke, Mary’s caregiver for the past eight months.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, Nov. 11, starting at 9 a.m. at O’Brien Funeral Home, 24 Lincoln Ave., Bristol, followed by a procession that will leave for St. Matthew Church, 120 Church Ave., Bristol for 11 a.m. Mass. A Christian burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Bristol.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Williams Syndrome, https://williams-syndrome.org.
To leave an online message of condolence, please visit Mary’s memorial webpage at www.OBrien-FuneralHome.com.
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