Margaret Jane O'Connell

Margaret Jane O'Connell of Cary, NC passed away Easter, April 17th, following a stroke. Margaret was born May 1, 1930 in Niagara Falls, NY, and graduated from Depew High School in 1947. She graduated from Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA) in 1951 and served as a librarian for the Alden, NY school district for two years. She then completed a master's degree in library science in the mid-1950s from Columbia University while teaching at Hicksville High School in NY and St. John's University (Queens, NY).

Margaret married Dan O'Connell in 1958 and taught library science across the West Islip school district until her retirement in 1985. Her passions included cats, travel, exercise avoidance, antique cars, Dixieland jazz, and her beloved NY Yankees baseball team. In her later years, she moved to Cary, NC to help out with her grandchildren, Daniel and Christine. She was an active member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Cary, NC.

Margaret leaves behind her son, Dan (wife Nancy) and grandchildren, Daniel and Christine. In addition, there is her sister, Betty (Richard deceased), along with nieces/nephews, Eileen (Wayne), Diane (Andy), and Martin (Suzanne), along with three great nieces, Mia, Lauren, and Madison, plus one great nephew, Brayden. There are also California cousins, Anne (Bob), Bill (Dot), and John (Diane), plus lifelong pen-pal niece, Susan (Mark) and her sister, Cathy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dan, and parents, Bill and Hilda Phelan.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BrownWynneCary.com for the O'Connell family.