Ruth Marie O'Connell

Ruth O'Connell of Madison, age 97, passed away at All Saints Memory Care on November 26, 2025. Ruth was born on July 28, 1928 to Clemens and Ruth (nee Bensene) Jansen in the Town of Franklin, Wisconsin. Ruth grew up in West Allis, and graduated from Mercy High School in Milwaukee, class of 1946. In 1949, Ruth married Jack O'Connell in West Allis. Ruth and Jack raised three children: Dori, Sandy and John. For many years, Ruth worked at Hartford Savings Bank in Hartford, Wisconsin. She enjoyed her work there, and established friendships at the bank that she cherished for a lifetime. Ruth moved to the All Saints Neighborhood in Madison in 2014, where she resided in independent living for nine years, followed by shorter stays in assisted living and memory care. Ruth was an expert knitter and a dominant Scrabble player. She also enjoyed golf, tennis and backyard badminton with family and friends.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jack; daughter Dori; brother Raymond; sister Patricia Siegler and her husband Joe Siegler; brother Clement Jansen and his wife Nancy Jansen. Ruth is survived by daughter Sandy (Mike) Angerame of Plymouth, MA; son John (Lynn) O'Connell of Madison; beloved grandsons John (Easter) O'Connell of Madison and Patrick (Sophia) O'Connell of Boston; and many nieces and nephews.
The family is grateful for the loving care Ruth received from the staff at All Saints and Agrace Hospice.
Funeral Mass on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 2121 Rowley Ave., Madison. Visitation at 10:30 a.m., Mass at 11:30, followed by lunch. Interment at a later date at St. Martin of Tours Cemetery, Franklin, WI. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruth, please visit our floral store.