Ninety three and a half years ago Philomena Ridgway O’Connell came into this world and made it a better place. With her sincere smile and twinkling eyes and stunning beauty, she captivated people from a young age, but it was her generous spirit and abundant love that made her legions of lifetime fans.
“Phil” was born in 1927 in Coffeyville, Kansas to John Joseph and Ellen French Ridgway, whose love story began in Cork, Ireland. Their emigration to the US. started a life and a legacy that numbers over 230 Ridgways today. That heritage and the celebration of all things Irish is a treasure she has handed down herself to 3 new generations.
Philomena considered her childhood and school days charmed. From her parents she learned Faith, and generosity, hospitality, story telling and how to hold a good Irish grudge. The family, including two older sisters Eileen and Harriet and two younger bothers Jack and Bill, all who have predeceased her, helped establish their Holy Name Catholic parish in Coffeyville and frequently hosted any visiting or local priest looking for good conversation. The Ridgway home was a refuge of food and music and laughter and love.
Phil was working toward a masters in teaching when a boy who grew up with her in Coffeyville, invited her to start their own love story. She married Bill O’Connell in Holy Name Church, where they were both baptized and went to school, and they took off on a life of adventure as a Navy family. Their 68-year marriage was her raison d’être, her pride and joy. She dropped everything when Bill became ill to care for him, and saw him faithfully off to his final reward on October of 2019.
Phil and Bill began their married life in Coronado, California and crossed the country over 8 times for posting after posting, just recently declaring that she loved every one of them. In each place she excelled at the role of Navy Wife, supporting and shining the light on her husband, setting up a home, having and raising 3 daughters, supporting the other Navy wives and families on base, and always the church… She excelled at all of it.
Phil gave her 3 daughters Anne (Meyer), Kathy (Hunter) and Erin (Dawes) the same charming childhood she experienced with the addition of military decorum. Through 13 moves they always felt tethered because Mom had things set up just so and was the constant at home, allowing the girls to explore their new surroundings and spread their wings. Her guidance and counsel and example-set continued right up to her passing.
She gave to her grandchildren Meghan and Katie Meyer, Ryan and Shannon Hunter, Sheila, Molly and Colleen Dawes the magic of a grandparent relationship of games and dancing and dress-up boxes and always giggling. A fearsome competitor and sharp as a tack, stories of evenings matches of spoons, trivial pursuit and reverse charades will remain family lore.
She welcomed into the family and loved and relied on her sons-in-law Rich Meyer, Joe Hunter and Peter Dawes. She did the same with spouses and significant others of her grandchildren Sean Martin, Kelsey Austin, Matthew Yessick, Doug Wheeler, Tom Horton and Adam Marsh. And she delighted in great grandchildren Luke, Annabelle and Peter Horton and Nolan Wheeler. Aunt Phil is beloved among the Ridgway clan, many of whom still grace Kansas. Local Potomac niece Marcie and husband Will Kinzel enjoyed many good times and memories together, sharing their children Marcella, Madeleine, William and John Robert with Phil and Bill.
Diligently holding a congestive heart condition at bay for years, it finally took her on September 21st, 2020. Prior to her recent move back to McLean, Phil lived 32 years in Clifton, Virginia where she and Bill enjoyed devoted friends and neighbors and were founding members of St. Clare of Assisi parish where a Rosary and Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 27th at 4pm. Funeral mass and Arlington National Cemetery burial date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Phil's memory to Holy Name Catholic Church, 408 Old Willow Street, Coffeyville, KS 67337.
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