Barbara T. O'Neill

New London - Barbara T. O'Neill, 94, of New London, passed away peacefully in her home with family by her side on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, friend and matriarch of Bellevue Place.

Barbara was the youngest of four daughters born to William and Agnes Thiede. She grew up on Cherry Street in Wallingford and graduated from Lyman Hall High School in 1941. During World War II, she worked at the new departure division of General Motors as a ball bearing inspector and later as a clerk in the shipping department. In the evenings she volunteered with Civil Defense, searching the night sky for enemy aircraft. After the war, she worked at American Cyanamid as secretary to the plant engineer and was later transferred to Idaho Falls in the early 50s to work at Cyanamid's atomic energy division. In Idaho, she met her husband, Owen, a native of New London, who was working for General Dynamics Electric Boat on the prototype of the first atomic powered submarine, the Nautilus. In 1953, she was transferred to Cyanamid in New York City where she worked as an administrative assistant in Rockefeller Plaza. In November 1953, she married Owen and relocated to his family home on Bellevue Place where they raised seven children. Bellevue Place is a close-knit neighborhood where Barbara was loved and cherished. In 2001, the neighbors awarded her the Eula Vae Goode Neighbor Award in recognition of her love, neighborliness, devotion and good deeds. She was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church for over 60 years.

In 1978, she began volunteering at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital's Lobby Shop where she logged 3938 hours during her 39 years of service. At age 75, she went to work for James Drug as a pharmacy clerk. When the pharmacy closed she continued that role at Dyer's/Arrow Pharmacy on Jefferson Avenue. In 2001, she was recruited to work at the New London Municipal Employee Credit Union as a member service representative and left that position in 2011. She was well known in the New London community and was especially admired for her eagerness and ability to master computer technology later in life. She loved word games and puzzles and was a devoted fan of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

She was predeceased by her husband, Owen; daughter, Elizabeth; and three sisters, Ruth Barbieri, Gertrude Lanouette and Agnes Bates.

She is survived by her children, Patty and her husband, Mark Schwartz, of Sylmar, Calif., Barbara and her husband, Brian Maguire, of New London, Peggy and her husband, John Cherrick, of Norwich, Owen and his wife, Gayle, of Waterford, Mary Ellen of New London, Eileen and her husband, Brian Godburn, of Oakdale, Timothy O'Neill of New London, and Mike and Lynn Manolakis of Fresno, Calif. She has seven grandchildren: Johnathan O'Neill, Lauren O'Neill, Abby Schwartz, Jordan Godburn, Benjamin Godburn, Crystal Cox and Jackie Braemer. She is also survived by her niece and nephews and their spouses and children.

The family extends sincere appreciation for the care and attention provided by Dr. Mark Fiengo, Kerry Morth, Dr. Robert Perry and to Dawn McDermott and her colleagues from the Center for Hospice Care.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, June 25, at St. Joseph's Church, New London. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Calling hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 24 and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 25 (before the Mass), at Thomas L. Neilan and Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London.

Gifts in memory of Mrs. O'Neill may be made to St. Joseph's School Endowment, c/o St. Joseph's Church, 17 Squire St., New London or to Center for Hospice Care Southeastern Connecticut, 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT 06360.