Mary Madeleine O’Connell, age 87, of Plympton, died on December 9, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. Beloved wife to the late Philip E. O’Connell for 61 years.
Born in Haddonfield, NJ, in June, 1926, she was the daughter of Lester and Madeleine O’Brien. She attended Massachusetts State College in 1946-47. She was an enthusiastic mother of 10 children, grandmother to 21, and great-grandmother to 14. She loved spending time with her family, attending daily Catholic mass, and was a voracious reader. In her youth, she was employed by the Philadelphia Register as a proofreader. She visited all 50 states, multiple continents, and enjoyed cruising with her children in her later years. She was an avid Boston Sports fan, especially of the Red Sox.
She was one of the original 600 women who took part in the medical study that developed the RhoGAM vaccine that led to the cure for the RH factor. She made monthly pilgrimages to a Massachusetts Red Cross blood bank for over 40 years to donate blood.
Mary was an integral part for over 30 years in the family owned business, The Lobster Shack, in Middleboro, Massachusetts. She was universally acclaimed for her vibrant and loving personality.
She is survived by her brother, John O’Brien of Mesquite, Texas; and children, Michael and Mary O’Connell, Anne Dargelis and fiancé Terry Moore, Jim and Carol O’Connell, Daniel and Phyllis O’Connell, Madeleine and Chris Hammond, Theresa and Rick Donovan, and Patricia and Lenny Petitpas, David and Barbara O’Connell. Mary was predeceased by her daughters, M. Elizabeth O’Connell and Mary Eileen O'Connell.
A Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, 272 Main Street, (Route 106), Kingston, on Thursday, December 12, 2013, at 10:15 AM. Relatives and friends invited to attend.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the wonderful folks at Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 326, Plymouth, MA 02360.