Loretta M. O’Neill
...founding family at St. Dorothy’s in Wilmington; 86
TEWKSBURY - Loretta M. (Manley) O’Neill, age 86, the matriarch of a prominent Tewksbury
family, died Sunday morning, Dec. 19, at the Wentworth Skilled Care Center in Lowell after a
brief illness. She was wife of the late Richard F. O’Neill Sr., the former Superintendent of the
Tewksbury Highway Department, who died in 1998.
She was born in Tewksbury, Oct. 24, 1918, a daughter of the late Thomas J. and Ella S. (Sawyer)
Manley. She resided in town throughout her life.
She was among the founding families of St. Dorothy’s Church in Wilmington.
She enjoyed gardening and will be remembered as having devoted her life to her family.
She is survived by six children; Richard F. O'Neill Jr. and his wife Carol (Cole) O’Neill of Tewksbury,
Barbara A. and her husband Gareth Stack of Lowell, Elizabeth L. and her husband William E.
Johnson of Tewksbury, John T. and his wife Teresa (McNamara) O’Neill of Tewksbury, Patricia
J. and her husband Joseph Stotik of Tewksbury, Sharon C. and her husband Stephan Zaremba of
Tewksbury; 15 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; a sister-in-law; Mary T. Manley of
Tewksbury; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was also sister of the late Wesley Barron, James “Bub” Manley, George Manley, Eugene
Manley, John Manley, and Ella Sarah Manley.
Her Funeral Mass was held Wednesday, Dec. 22, in St. Dorothy’s Church, Interment was in Tewksbury
Cemetery. Memorials to the Joslin Diabetes Center, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215 will be
appreciated.