Francis A. O'Neil, age 77, of Juno Beach, FL, formerly a resident of Greenville for 34 years, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2009, with his family by his side, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of the late Dorothy T. (Prior) O’Neil. They were married for 52 years. Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Helen R. (O’Neill) O’Neil and Francis M. O’Neil.
He is survived by his dearly loved children; Anne Corbo, of North Scituate, Barbara O'Neil, of Greenville, Michael O'Neil, of Kimberton, PA, Susan Parsons, of Denville, NJ, and Christopher O'Neil, of Lansdale, PA. He was the proud grandfather of; Derek Corbo, Sean, Cameron, and Ryan O'Neil, Alicia and Brian Parsons, and Erin, John, and Megan O'Neil. He was the father-in-law of Michael Corbo, Lauren O'Neil, Jeffrey Parsons, and Mara O'Neil.
He leaves his cherished sister Eleanor Mulvey, her husband John Mulvey, and niece Lynn (Mulvey) Blais, RN, of Seekonk, MA, who, along with his children, were devoted in caring for him during his illness. He leaves several nieces, nephews, and their children.
He volunteered and served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954. He was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he was chosen to serve in the Army’s elite 3rd U.S. Infantry, A Company, traditionally known as “The Old Guard”, the Army’s oldest active-duty infantry unit. He marched with The Old Guard in the inaugural parade for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1953, he volunteered for infantry duty and was a veteran of the Korean War.
He retired from the Narragansett Electric Company in 1995, after more than 40 years of service. He and his wife moved to Juno Beach, Florida in 1996, where they enjoyed retirement with neighbors and life-long friends, James and Margaret Logan, and many new friends and neighbors at Oak Harbour.
His funeral will be held on Thursday, September 24th at 8:30 a.m. from the ANDERSON-WINFIELD Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Pike, Greenville. Burial, with military honors, will be in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Cranston. Visiting hours Wednesday 4-7pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory to Home & Hospice Care of RI, 1085 No. Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 .