Marlene R. (Groene) O'Neill of Mattapoisett passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 4, 2012 at Sherrill House after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was the wife of the late Francis D. O'Neill.
Born in Joliet, Illinois, the daughter of the late Linus F. and Marguerite (McGrath) Groene, she had lived in Illinois and California before moving to Mattapoisett in 1973.
She was a communicant of St. Anthony's Church.
She was a graduate of St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Evanston, Illinois.
Throughout the years, Mrs. O'Neill was actively involved in school functions, church groups, and community activities. Though originally trained as a registered nurse, she transitioned herself into working for not-for-profit organizations, having served as the development director at Bishop Stang High School and New Bedford Child and Family Services. She had been a member of the Mattapoisett Housing Authority, Past President of the Mattapoisett Women's Club, and a member of the Board of Directors of Community Nurse Association in Fairhaven.
Survivors include five children, Peggy O'Neill DaCosta and her husband Todd of Milton, Mary Beth Grasso and her husband Ralph of Stratford, CT, Maureen O'Neill of Boston and Mattapoisett, Brian O'Neill and his wife Tricia of Roswell, GA, and Terry O'Neill and his wife Elke of San Francisco, CA; a sister, Marjory L. Kennedy and her husband John of Tennessee; ten grandchildren, D.J., Matt and Abby DaCosta, Cate, Michael and Maggie Grasso, Connor, Caroline, Maddy and Brendan O'Neill; and many nieces and nephews.
She was the grandmother of the late Erin DaCosta.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10 AM at St. Anthony's Church. Burial will follow in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., (Route 6), Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sherrill House, 135 South Huntington Ave., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.