Mary Ellen O'Neill

Born on August 15, 1932, Mary was the second of Maurice and Mary Anne (Fitzgerald) Carmody’s six children. She grew up on Upper William Street in Listowel, County Kerry and had many fond memories there. Her love of Ireland and her childhood friends remained strong all her life.

She immigrated to America in 1950, residing first with her cousins (the Rolands) in Fort Lee, NJ, and moving to the Bronx shortly after. Mary very much enjoyed her position as Executive Secretary at Con Edison’s Law Department where she worked for several years. It was there at Con Edison that she met the love of her life, her “angel,” Martin O’Neill, who had also recently immigrated to America from Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland.

Mary and Martin married in 1954 at St. Benedict’s Parish, settling in the Marble Hill neighborhood of the Bronx where they would raise their six children. Mary’s life was dedicated

to her husband and their children, and in later years to their grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She was affectionately known as Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, and Auntie Mary.

Mary was blessed in so many ways. Those who knew her could attest to her strong faith. She had great love for all people and was devoted to caring for others – family, friends, and strangers alike. She maintained a special place in her heart for the Maier family of Riverdale and proudly cared for them for many years. Anyone who needed a helping hand could count on Mary O’Neill. She was there for all, and her love was unconditional.

Mary was predeceased by her husband Martin (2012), her brother Thomas (1993), and her sister Catherine (2019), all of whom she loved very much and missed dearly. She is survived by her brothers John and Richard (Ireland) and her sister Ellon Murray (Babylon, LI). Mary is survived by her six children – Paul (Deborah Manley) of Yonkers, NY; Sean (Siobhan Daly) of Pearl River; Martin (Sharon Griffin) of Fort Myers, FL; Thomas (Julie Basso) of Inverness, IL; Michael (Kathleen McElhinney) of Blauvelt, NY; and Maura (Paul) Rayward of Pearl River.

She is also survived by her sixteen grandchildren – Rory, Christi, Christina (Matt Maroone), Kevin, Cathleen (Will Fowlkes), Kathleen (Daniel Carpano), Martin (Emily Freud), Paul, Ryan, Kyle, Catherine, Brian, Elizabeth, Thomas, Michael, and Aidan – and her great-grandchildren Stella, Beau, Matteo, Benjamin, and Patrick.

Family will receive friends on Sunday, September 25 th from 3-7 pm at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home in New City, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday at 11:15 at St. Aedan’s Church in Pearl River, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners Hospitals for Children, two causes that were dear to Mary’s heart.