Obituary of Edward G. O'Connell, Jr.

Edward G. O'Connell, Jr. October 20, 1922 - May 15, 2013 Deacon Edward O'Connell passed peacefully last Wednesday, surrounded by loved ones. The oldest of eight children, Ed lived a rich and fulfilling life. Despite working from an early age to help his family out he found time to get his Eagle Scout badge at the age of 15, and stayed active in scouting for the next 30 years, mostly as a troop leader. He enlisted in the army and served his country for four years in WWII, being stationed mostly in Germany and France. After returning from the war, he attended the University of Buffalo (UB) on the GI Bill, receiving a B.A. in American history. While there he also met and married a young pharmacy student named Doris Kellogg. They had two children, Marsha and Matthew. He found his true calling as a teacher in the Buffalo school district where he taught 4th and 6th grade students. He finished his M.A. during night school, while teaching during the day. He taught for almost 30 years before retiring. A number of his students toward the end were the 2nd or 3rd generation of children he had taught earlier in his career. Many former students who were now parents used to tell him they were glad their kids were in his class; that they had specifically asked to have their kids in Mr. O'Connell's class. They remembered him not because he helped them understand social studies or math but because he helped them become better people. He was very active in the Catholic Church in Eden, where he lived since 1970. For approximately eight years he was head of CCD classes (aka Sunday school) at Immaculate Conception Church. In the mid-1970's the diocese introduced the first permanent deaconate and he was accepted as part of its inaugural class. He served as a deacon in the church for the next 20 years. During that time he was involved in a wide range of charitable activities including a program at Cradle Beach which provided severely disabled children with an opportunity to play in the sun and be involved in outside activities near Lake Erie. He loved those kids and they loved him. To them, he was simply Deacon Ed. After he retired from teaching, he and Doris spent time driving around the country. Doris passed in 2003 and Ed stayed home in Eden for the next 7 years. In the final couple of years, he moved into Elderwood at Rosewood, an assisted living facility, and then late last year into the skilled nursing facility at Elderwood at Lakewood. He enjoyed the time he spent at both Rosewood and Lakewood. He loved the people; and from what we've been told, they loved him as well. He was a proud Buffalonian. He loved the area, its history, and its people. He is survived by his daughter Marsha, his son Matt and his daughter-in-law Mari. Goodbye, Ed. We love you and we miss you. Thanks for everything. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Monday, June 24, 2013; 3:30PM at Immaculate Conception Church, 8791 S. Main St. Eden, NY. Followed by a wake at the Four Corner's Café, 8571 N. Main St., Eden, NY, starting at 4:30PM. Arrangements entrusted to Laing Funeral Home Inc 2724 W. Church St. Eden, NY Words of sympathy may be made on www.LaingFuneralHome.com