Nora M. O'Neil

Nora M. ONeil, known as Nora the Nurse at Sesame Place and a special lady who could fix boo boos and restore smiles, died peacefully on November 23, 2012, after a valiant battle against old age. She was 92. Nora was a longtime resident of Fairless Hills and in later years made her home in Churchville with her daughter and son-in-law Ellen and Edward Renn. Born in Pittsburgh on March 18, 1920, Nora was the oldest of five children of the late Michael J. and Anna Sullivan. The family later moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., where Nora attended public schools. After high school, she enrolled in Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh receiving her R.N. in 1941. In 1942, she married Robert ONeil, who in 1999 predeceased her after 57 years together. During World War II, while Robert was in the Navy, Nora worked in the dispensary of the former New York Journal American Newspaper. With the opening of the U.S. Steel Corporations Fairless Works, the couple moved to Fairless Hills in 1952 and reared five children. During that time, Nora was a homemaker but gave freely of her skills as head nurse on the block dispensing advice and nursing treatment at no cost to friends and neighbors, who depended on her expertise. At age 60, with her children grown, Nora returned to work at the Fairless Hills Medical Center. She set up the Sesame Place dispensary, when the park opened in 1980. She remained at Sesame Place for 21 years retiring in 2001 at age 81. At that time she was honored with a proclamation from the Bucks County Commission, which declared Oct. 30, 2001, Nora ONeil Day. In 2011, Nora received the Outstanding Alumni Award in Lifetime Achievement from the St. Francis Medical Center School of Nursing Alumni Association at its annual reunion in Pittsburgh. She was a longtime communicant at St. Frances Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, a member of the St. Frances Cabrini Ladies Guild and a volunteer at Bishop Conwell and Bishop Egan High schools. When she wasnt caring for her husband, children or the ill and injured, she enjoyed playing bridge. Nora is survived by her children and their spouses, Margaret M. Schenk (Richard) of Connecticut, Nora A. Tramontana (James) of Florida, Michael G. ONeil (Gloria) of Virginia, Ellen M. Renn (Edward) of Churchville and Robert A. ONeil (Angela) of Easton; also 12 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday, from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at the James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., 2200 Trenton Road, Levittown. Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, 9:30 am at Saint Frances Cabrini Church, 325 South Oxford Valley Road, Fairless Hills, PA 19030, followed by Rite of Committal in Resurrection Cemetery. There will be no calling hours on Friday morning. In lieu of flowers, Nora requested prior to her death that donations be made in her name to St. Frances Cabrini Church, at the above address. Condolences may be posted at www.doughertyfuneralhome.com.