James Flavian O'Donnell

James Flavian O'Donnell, 68, of Moorestown, New Jersey, went home to be with his Lord on March 27, 2026 with his wife of 37 years, Lisa Ann O'Donnell, by his side.

Born February 26, 1958, in Jersey City, New Jersey, he was the son of William and Mary (White) O'Donnell, spending his early years in Bayonne, New Jersey. He grew up surrounded by loving parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and many cousins. In 1967, his parents moved their family of seven to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Jay immediately embraced what felt like life in the country. He graduated from St. Peter Celestine grammar school and Camden Catholic High School and went on to earn a degree in business management from Rowan University. Jay worked for over 40 years in the fields of urban renewal, economic development and real estate development and was the founder of The O'Donnell Group.

Jay, a man of deep faith, believed strongly that everyone has a purpose worth pursuing and spent his life helping others discover theirs. He carried a belief in teamwork and shared success, first forged as part of the undefeated 1974–75 wrestling team at Camden Catholic High School, an experience later honored with his induction into the Green & White Hall of Fame. A successful entrepreneur many times over, through mentorship, goal setting, and coaching, he helped countless people and businesses find their path forward. Jay loved all animals, particularly dogs, and utilized this love to help breed and train several accomplished service and therapy labrador retrievers. He founded Mission Voice, a non-profit dedicated to helping people with special needs. For many years, he served on the board of trustees of his alma mater Camden Catholic High School. From Bayonne to Camden to Cape May, Jay was a Jersey boy through and through and had a deep love for the beauty of the state and a devotion to helping fix its brokenness.

Jay is survived by his wife Lisa (née Hobbs-Fernie), his adored children James (Hanne), Anne and Daniel O'Donnell; his siblings William (Ellen), Nancy Gaddis (John), Robert (Shannon) and Mary Jane Campbell (Kevin); his mother and father-in-law Sidra and Neil Hobbs-Fernie, sister-in-law Lynda Allibone (Michael), brothers-in-law William (Mary Anne) and Neil (Stacie) Hobbs-Fernie; his cherished nieces and nephews: William (Carolyn), Michael (Kristina) and Matthew (Grace) O'Donnell, Christine Gaddis Mahoney (Kevin), Mary Kate Gaddis, Shane and Emily O'Donnell, Ryan, Erin (Michael) and Kelly Campbell, David Hobbs-Fernie (Erin), Robert (Jacqueline), Matthew (Melissa) and Michael (Allyson) Allibone, Melanie, and Paige Hobbs-Fernie, nine great nieces and nephews; many cousins, dear friends, chosen nephew Nicholas Cook, his beloved labradors Sami and Bohdi and cat Rudolph. He was predeceased by his parents William Patrick O'Donnell and Mary Theresa (White) O'Donnell.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, April 7th from 10:00 am -1:00 pm at Christ Our Light Church, 402 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, NJ followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 pm. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jay's memory may be made to any of three organizations that were important to Jay: Camden Catholic High School (300 Cuthbert Blvd, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 or https://www.camdencatholic.org/page/ways-to-give/; Urban Promise (27 N. 36th Street, Camden, NJ 08105); or the Down Syndrome Association of Southern NJ https://dsasnj.com/donate/