James McDonnell

James McDonnell, affectionately known to all as "Uncle Jim," was born on April 13, 1941, in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, Ireland, to Eileen (Nolan) and Francis McDonnell. Jim immigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, NY, to be near his family, He met and married his beloved wife, Maureen (nee O’Connor) in 1971.

Jim was a dedicated, kind and hardworking man who forged a successful career as a beloved custodian for the NYC Public Schools, splitting his time between Brooklyn Tech and Erasmus High School.

A proud Irishman, Jim was passionate about Irish sports and culture. He was a regular at the annual St. Patrick’s Day parades in NYC and Bay Ridge, and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and activities of The Great Irish Festival in Coney Island. He was a great fan of Irish music, especially musician Andy Cooney, and often attended his live performances. Jim was friendly to everyone he met and loved to discuss the Kerry football team, often attending Gaelic games at Gaelic Park whenever one of the county teams played. He also had a great love for the New York Mets, enjoying talking about the team's season, regardless of their standing, and attending games at Shea Stadium and Citi Field.

Above all, Jim cherished the time he spent with his family, particularly during holidays and special milestone celebrations, where his kind spirit and humor always shone through.

Jim is predeceased by his parents, Eileen and Francis; his wife, Maureen; his brother, Desmond; and his sister, Eileen. He is survived by his sisters Mary, Lilly, Breege, and Teresa; his brothers Frank, Paddy, and Sean; and numerous nieces and nephews in both America and Ireland.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony's Church, 36 W Nyack Rd, Nanuet, NY 10954, US, for Funeral Mass - St. Anthony's Shrine on May 9, 2026, at 10am.

Burial to follow at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery, 36 W Nyack Rd, Nanuet, NY 10954, US, on May 9, 2026.