Geraldine R. O'Connell

Geraldine R. O'Connell, 94, died Wednesday (March 29, 2017) at the Wayne County Nursing Home. Friends may call from 4 to 8 PM on Thursday (April 6st) at the Paul L. Murphy & Sons Funeral Home, 127 East Miller Street, Newark. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM on Friday (April 7h) at St. Michael Church, South Main Street, Newark. Burial will be in Newark Cemetery Memorials, in her name, may be made to the Music Ministry, St. Michael Church, 401 South Main Street, Newark, New York 14513 or the Newark-Arcadia Historical Society, 120 High Street, Newark, New York 14513. Geraldine was born September 27, 1922 in Newark, the daughter of the late George and Emma VanWaes Townsend. She was a 1940 graduate of Newark High School and a life long communicant of St. Michael Church where she had been a volunteer with the Martha Ministry. She also volunteered at St. Michael's School and was a teachers aide for over ten years. Gerry had been a Girl School Leader and a neighborhood chairperson. She was a member of the Newark Garden Club and the Newark-Arcadia Historical Society. Gerry was an avid Syracuse Basketball fan. She is survived her two daughters Patricia (William) Fyles of Newark and Nancy (William) Altenburg of Camillus; two sons James (Barbara) of Newark and Michael (Kerry) of Riverhead; eight grandchildren, Jessica (Tim) Solem, Adam (Liz) Fyles, Kathryn Altenburg, Ryan ( Michelle Erb), Daniel (Brett), Colleen, Brian and Margaret O'Connell; three great grandchildren Jaxson O'Connell, Charlotte and Josephine Fyles; two sisters Margaret Hoot of Lyons and Elizabeth Johnston of Canandaigua; two sister-in-laws Gail Townsend of Lyons and Marilyn Ruck of CA.; several nieces and nephews. Gerry was predeceased by her husband in Bernard in 2006 ; two brothers Robert and George Townsend. www.murphyandsonsfuneralhome.com