Frank J. O'Connell Jr.

January 31, 2004
Former state Sen. Frank J. O'Connell, Jr., 80, of Kingston, and Port St. Lucie, Fla., died Saturday in Florida.
Born Dec. 26, 1923, in Kingston he was a son of the late Frank and Mary O'Connell. He was a graduate of St. Mary's High School, Wilkes-Barre, and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in Europe. He owned and operated the Kingston House and Columbia Catering for many years. He served on and was past president of the Kingston Council for many years. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 120th District in 1966. He was later elected to the state Senate for the 20th District and served for several years. He was a member of the Independent Fire Co., Kingston; the Anthrosilicosis League, the Farmers Association; Boy Scouts of America; King's College Founders Board, Anthracite Post Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 296; the Elks Club; and was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 302 Bishop Hafey Assembly, Wilkes-Barre. He was past president of the Luzerne County Association of Boroughs, the Northeast Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Restaurant Association. He was past senior vice commander of Black Diamond American Legion Post 395 and was past director of the Hoyt Library, Kingston. He received the Junior Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Man if the Year, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Man of the Year and Hoyt Library Man of the Year awards.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Mary Kelly; sister, Dorothy Mangan; and granddaughter, Abigail Phillips.
Surviving are a son, Frank J. O'Connell III, Shickshinny; daughters, Mollie Phillips, Kingston; Sharon Considine, Harveys Lake; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brothers, John and Robert; sisters, May T. O'Connell, Peggy Radaziewski and Claire Pemberton; and nieces and nephews.
Military funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday from the Hugh B. Hughes & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Ignatius Church, Kingston. Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Kingston Township.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. The Independent Fire Co. of Kingston will assemble at 7:45 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen, Hoyt Library or to the charity of the donor's choice.