Loretta "Laurie" O'Connell

Loretta "Laurie" O'Connell of Glen Ellyn, IL. Mother of Lolly (Mike) Maloney, Toni Capalety-Dore and Christie Capalety. Grandmother of Collin, KJ, Jack, Quinn, Dominic and Peyton. Daughter of the late Bernie and late Francis O'Connell. Sister of the late Geraldine (O'Connell) Considine and Bernie O'Connell and aunt of many nieces & nephews.
Our beloved mother, Laurie O'Connell, passed away peacefully after a long illness, two days shy of what would have been her 87th birthday. She was an incredibly strong and independent woman until her final days. She is in God's hands now, at peace and no longer suffering, for which we are grateful.
Laurie grew up in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, attended St. Philip Neri catholic grade school and graduated from St. Xavier Academy. In her youth, she enjoyed many lakefront activities and attending social events at South Shore Country Club, now the Chicago Cultural Center. She worked as an Executive Assistant at the Petrie Company, a Chicago ad agency in the 50's.
After marrying, she raised three daughters in River Forest and Oak Brook. She served on the Jr. Board and Women's Board at Misericordia where she helped with many successful fundraising and volunteer events. She was involved with many other charitable causes and volunteered at her daughter's schools.
She moved to Glen Ellyn in 1997 where she lived for the last 20 + years. She had a long active life, loved to share her favorite sweet treats and recipes and thoroughly enjoyed her grandchildren. She would not miss any of their activities, loved cheering them on and celebrating all their achievements. Laurie also enjoyed baking, needlepoint, golfing, playing cards, and cocktails with her girlfriends.
She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, March 2nd from 10 AM until a Memorial Funeral Mass (11 AM) at St. Petronille Catholic Church, 420 Glenwood Avenue, Glen Ellyn.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project support.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or Tunnel to Towers Foundation dogood.t2t.org/donate.
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