Rosemary Dorothy O'Neill

O'Neill

Rosemary Dorothy O'Neill

Rosemary Dorothy O'Neill, loving sister, aunt and great aunt, died on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, surrounded by family. Born on March 20, 1943, in Cambridge, MA, Rosemary was the cherished daughter of the late Speaker of the US House, Thomas P. "Tip" and Millie O'Neill. Rosemary grew up in North Cambridge and attended the Ellis School, St. John's Elementary, and Matignon High School.

Following her family's legacy and commitment to public service, Rosemary enjoyed a distinguished career at the State Department. After graduating from Dunbarton College, Rosemary joined the US State Department as special assistant to George Feldman, Ambassador of Malta and Luxembourg. Feldman was a wonderful mentor and the two remained close friends until his death in 1994.

Rosemary served at the State Department's headquarters in Washington, DC until she was posted to Morocco in 1980. Her career in the Foreign Service was extensive. Under the State Department's Secretary of Human Rights, Rosemary traveled to the USSR promoting and protecting human rights for people with disabilities. As an advisor with the Director of Policy Planning on Northern Ireland issues, she was instrumental in convincing the State Department to assemble a prominent group of Irish American leaders for meetings with the President's Special Envoy to Northern Ireland to update them after each visit to Northern Ireland.

In 1992, as elected Chair of the Open Forum, an internal and confidential channel for Foreign Service Officers created by the Secretary of State for free flow discussion and debate on U.S. policy, Rosemary revitalized the Speaker's Program, and the Open Forum Working Group on Conflict Resolution, Civil Society, and Democracy.

Her final assignment prior to retiring was the establishment of the Afghan Women's Program, providing Afghan women and girls with educational opportunities.

She remained close to former colleagues, and she joined them on Zoom each week during the pandemic closures to discuss issues around the world, particularly focused on Ukraine and its fight for freedom. Her history of involvement and participation in global issues regarding women and the underserved will have continuing repercussions long after her death.

Rosemary's great loves in life were first and foremost her family and friends, followed by Democrats, Ireland, and Cape Cod. She retired to Harwich Port in 2004, serving on the Harwich Democratic Committee and Chair of the Board of The Family Pantry of Cape Cod. Rosemary frequently traveled to Ireland to maintain relationships with the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition and to Mallow, County Cork which was the ancestral home of her father's family. In 2017, she served as the Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Mallow.

Rosemary is survived by her siblings, Former Lt. Governor Thomas P. O'Neill III and his wife, Shelly of Boston, MA, Susan O'Neill of Washington, DC, and Christopher (Kip) O'Neill and his wife, Stephanie, of Washington, DC. In addition, she leaves behind her nieces, nephews and their families, Leigh O'Neill, Thomas P. O'Neill IV and his fiancée, Eva Joly, Michaela Daniel, her wife, Lindsay Greene and their children Zuri and Nyah, Catlin O'Neill and her partner Chris Vieson and their children, Lila and Daisy Vieson, Abby O'Neill, Peter O'Neill and his wife, Sara, Michael O'Neill, his wife Katie, and their children Patrick and Molly, Tom O'Neill, his wife Miin Chen, and their children Emma and Daniel, former sisters-in-law, Jackie O'Neill and Joanne O'Neill, and many treasured cousins. She was predeceased by her parents; her brother Michael; and former brother-in-law Bruce Daniel.

A wake will be held at Chapman Funerals & Cremations at 678 Main Street Ext. Harwich MA 02645 on Sunday, July 31, 2022 from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral will be held at Our Lady of the Cape at 468 Stony Brook Rd, Brewster, MA 02631 on Monday, August 1 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Family Pantry of Cape Cod, 133 Queen Anne Road, Harwich, MA 02645.

Notes of comfort may be made to her family at

www.chapmanfuneral.com