Patricia L. O'Connell

She was born in West Swanzey, NH, March 3, 1937, the daughter of Martin J. and Mary Hazel (Cameron) Sarsfield. She grew up in West Swanzey and was a 1955 graduate of Keene High School, where in her senior year, she was named “Miss KHS”.

A resident of Keene since 1965, Mrs. O’Connell worked as a bookkeeper early on in her work career. She later worked for 14 years with the Ye Goodie Shoppe in Keene as a candy maker as well as in sales, a job she truly enjoyed.

Mrs. O’Connell was a majorette in the Keene High School marching band and was the drum major for several years with the West Swanzey Drum and Bugle Corp. Her favorite pastime was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by three daughters; Kimberly K. King and her husband Maurice of Peoria, IL, Kelly M. Keating and her partner Lisa Watson of Gloucester, Mass., Kerry A. Keating and her partner, Marly Solebello of Ashland, NH, four step-daughters; Kelly O’Connell of Keene, Kara O’Connell of Manchester, NH, Katie Pierson of Simsbury, CT, Hanna O’Connell of West Swanzey, seven grandchildren; Patrick K. King and Megan L. King, both of Peoria, August W. Watson and Pyper J. Watson, both of Gloucester, Molly Maliska of Keene, Mallory Maloon and Mitchell Rogerson, both of Manchester, two sister; Mary Maxfield and Theresa Lynde, both of Turners Falls, Mass., and several nieces and nephews. Her husband of 16 years, John J. O’Connell, died October 28, 2004. Two brothers, Garrett Sarsfield and Francis Sarsfield, died earlier.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday, July 22, 2011 at 12:30PM in St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene, NH. Burial will follow in the Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Avenue, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests for those who wish that donations be made in Mrs. O’Connell’s memory to Patient Care Needs of Hospice, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.