Cheryl Lynn O'Neill

Peacefully, at Home on Thursday, May 13, 2021, Cheryl Lynn O’Neill entered into the presence of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. She was born the second child and daughter of Jack and Doris (nee

Leonard) Jessop on August 27, 1949 in North Bay, Ontario. Lynn is survived by her loving husband and best friend of 50 years, Russ O’Neill, her beloved children Trevor, Chad (Kelly), and her four grandchildren, Taylor, Tristan, Dublin and Teagan. Lynn is also lovingly remembered by her in-laws,

cousins, nieces and nephews, and her many longtime friends from across Canada, Ireland, and the United States - all places where she faithfully served her Lord and Saviour. Lynn was predeceased by her third Son, Luke Matthew, who was laid to rest in St. Finnbar’s Cemetery, Cork, Ireland and sister Joanne Desnoyers. Lynn grew up in a single-parent home where her mother got her involved in Brownies, Girl Guides, dancing, modelling, majorettes and even Sunday School at a local church. In her late teens Lynn became a professionally

trained executive secretary working for the Montreal Alouettes. She was also the head majorette for the “Als” and in 1968 she was voted Miss Alouette to represent Montreal in the Miss Grey Cup Pageant.

On Friday evening, April 9th, 1971 Lynn met Russ and six months later on October 9th, 1971 they pledged their vows to each other, and to God - “Till death do us part”. Nine months and three days after Lynn and Russ were married her first son, Trevor was born, and twenty months later Chad was

born. Three years after marriage, in the midst of many of life’s struggles both Lynn and Russ came into a personal relationship with the reality of the saving work of Jesus Christ, God’s only provision for sinners. Following their conversion to Jesus Christ Lynn and family spent four years at Prairie Bible College in Alberta, and from 1981 through 2019 laboured in evangelistic and pastoral ministry in Canada, Ireland, and the United States. In Ireland Lynn got very involved with the Irish Guide Dog association where she gave the first year of training to eight seeing eye dogs. Once back in Canada she took on four other seeing eye dogs with the Lion’s Club in Oakville, Ontario. Her love for dogs was insatiable and Russ

would often jokingly say, “Lynnie, all I ask of you is that you treat me like a dog”. Lynn and Russ relocated to Abbotsford BC in 2019 where she was developing several new friendships with the residents of Awana Place. Lynn stuck to her biblical convictions through life because she was a woman of God’s Word. Lynn was a true servant to her Lord, to her husband and children, and to the Christian fellowships she became a part of serving the Lord’s people utilizing her God given giftedness.

Fifty years to the day that Lynn met Russ, on April 9, 2021 both Lynn and Russ were diagnosed with Covid - On Thursday, May 13th Lynn stepped out of time into eternity…She fell in love with another Man and He took her away from us to His Home - the thing is I’m in love with this same Man, Jesus Christ, and He has assured me that He will bring me to His Home one day as well - but not just yet. Russ, Trevor, and Chad cannot thank the nursing staff enough, on the fourth floor ICU Covid unit, at the Abbotsford Hospital, for their many acts of kindness and care, first for Lynn, and then for Lynn’s immediate family - We thank our wonderful Lord for each of you and pray for both you and your families that He would keep you safe and draw each one to Himself by His everlasting love demonstrated at Calvary.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Henderson’s Fraser Valley Funeral Home in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

In lieu of flowers, donations to MSC (Missionary Service of Canada), 101 Amber Street - Unit 16, Markham, Ontario - L3R 3B2 and designated for the support of Garnet and Gwen Cooney, missionaries in Ireland, who continue shepherding a small flock of the Lord’s People in Charleville, Co. Cork, where the O’Neill and Weeks’ families pioneered the work 34 years ago. A private internment service for family will take place on Wednesday, May 26th, 11:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in Chilliwack, BC. A Celebration of

Life will take place at the Sardis Baptist Church in Chilliwack at 2:00 p.m. the same day - unfortunately due to Covid restrictions, by invitation only.

“Absent from the body Present with the Lord”

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be

compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”