Josephine O'Neil

1933 - 2022

Josephine O'Neil
Jan. 24, 1933 - July 7, 2022
San Jose
Josephine O'Neil died peacefully July 7, 2022 at Good Samaritan Hospital with her family at her side.
Jo was the wife of Paul O'Neil and the mother of Bill (Maxine), Anne O'Neil, and Molly (Steve Salas) O'Neil and grandmother of Mathew and Anna Salas. She also leaves two sisters Carmina Silvaroli and Angela Vitberg (Darren) of Tonawanda and Niagara Falls NY. Jo also has three previously deceased sisters, Rosemarie Pera (Paul), Antoinette Vullo (Frank) and Joan King (Bill).
Josephine Silvaroli was born in Buffalo NY January 24, 1933 the fourth daughter of Anthony and Angelica (Mule) Silvaroli. Tony was an Italian immigrant farmer and Ange the daughter of Italian Immigrants. Initially they lived in Project housing in the poorest sections of waterfront Buffalo. Jo spent summers picking berries in the farms South of Buffalo. An auto accident in which she was injured as a teenager changed the direction of her life as she turned the insurance settlement into a college education.
Jo graduated from D'Youville College a small, Catholic women's College in Buffalo and from the State University College at Buffalo with an MA in Education. At D'Youville she was her College's representative to the National Student Association. She taught in the Buffalo and Williamsville NY school systems primarily fourth grade and later taught Elementary Education at Rosary Hill College in Amherst, NY.
In 1965 she met and in 1967 married Paul O'Neil. Soon after their marriage Paul's job moved them to the NY area where they lived in Mamaroneck, NY. By December of 1969 they were in Albany, NY where all three of their children were born. Then it was back to NY area living in Chappaqua, NY where Jo was active in church affairs, newcomers as President, and a leader in the Garden Club.
In 1980 the family moved to San Jose. Here Jo was Secretary of the Almaden Valley Homeowners Association, Captain of the Riverside Women's Golf Group, and later, at Almaden Country Club, she held leadership positions with the Women's 18 hole Group.
She was a Bridge player and in her eighties she taught Bridge to the club members and others.
Jo was a lifelong scholar with a passion for the Roman classics, American History, and a good mystery novel.
Although her outside activities were important to her, the number one task was always the upbringing of her children. At that she was a success beyond simple praise. All three are successful, happy, mature adults- a direct result of her parenting skills.
Jo will be missed by all her family, her children and grandchildren, her husband, and her many friends.
Vigil and funeral services will be held at Darling Fischer in Los Gatos. Vigil: Monday, July 18, 5 to 7 pm, Funeral: Tuesday, July 19, at 10 am. Reception July 19, 1-3pm at Almaden Country Club. All who knew and loved Jo are invited to each.


View the online memorial for Josephine  O'Neil