Mary Elizabeth O'Neill
June 25, 1916 ~ February 16, 2011
Mary Elizabeth (Bib) O'Neill
1916 - 2011
Mary Elizabeth (Bib) O'Neill, loving wife and mother, avid quilter, driver, traveler, golfer and gardener, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at her home in Vienna, Virginia. She was 94. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 25, 1916, the oldest daughter of Hazel and Ben Neal.
Bib began her college years at DePauw University in 1933, where she pledged the Tri Delta Sorority. Due to the financial hardships of the Depression, she decided to transfer to her state college, the University of Illinois, her sophomore year. After graduating in 1937, Bib lived in Mattoon, Illinois, where she was a junior high school Latin teacher. She wrote in her memoir that as much as she loved her job, she became restless being so far from the action of the day working for the war effort. She thus accepted a job with the Signal Corps in Arlington, Virginia and moved to Washington D.C.
In June of 1942, where she lived until December, 1945. During her years in Washington, she met her husband of 60 years, James C. O'Neill, who was serving in the Army. They married on December 27, 1945, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Bib and Jim lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, their home and the birthplace of all of their five children (including John Drew O'Neill, who died in infancy), for 57 years. For a number of years, Bib worked as an editor for the University of Michigan's Business Administration School. She loved her life in Ann Arbor and loved her community. She rarely missed a Saturday at the Farmer's Market, and she shopped only at downtown stores. She was devoted to her family and friends, and loved reading, and her piano. Her husband died in 2006.
She is survived by her four children, Molly Downs of Vienna, Virginia, Kate O'Neill, of New York, New York, Ellen O'Neill of Richmond, Virginia and Jamie O'Neill of Austin, Texas, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, as well as by her sons-in-law Will Downs and Bob (John R.) Mohan and daughter-in-law Laura Kelso.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
1916 - 2011
Mary Elizabeth (Bib) O'Neill, loving wife and mother, avid quilter, driver, traveler, golfer and gardener, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at her home in Vienna, Virginia. She was 94. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 25, 1916, the oldest daughter of Hazel and Ben Neal.
Bib began her college years at DePauw University in 1933, where she pledged the Tri Delta Sorority. Due to the financial hardships of the Depression, she decided to transfer to her state college, the University of Illinois, her sophomore year. After graduating in 1937, Bib lived in Mattoon, Illinois, where she was a junior high school Latin teacher. She wrote in her memoir that as much as she loved her job, she became restless being so far from the action of the day working for the war effort. She thus accepted a job with the Signal Corps in Arlington, Virginia and moved to Washington D.C.
In June of 1942, where she lived until December, 1945. During her years in Washington, she met her husband of 60 years, James C. O'Neill, who was serving in the Army. They married on December 27, 1945, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Bib and Jim lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, their home and the birthplace of all of their five children (including John Drew O'Neill, who died in infancy), for 57 years. For a number of years, Bib worked as an editor for the University of Michigan's Business Administration School. She loved her life in Ann Arbor and loved her community. She rarely missed a Saturday at the Farmer's Market, and she shopped only at downtown stores. She was devoted to her family and friends, and loved reading, and her piano. Her husband died in 2006.
She is survived by her four children, Molly Downs of Vienna, Virginia, Kate O'Neill, of New York, New York, Ellen O'Neill of Richmond, Virginia and Jamie O'Neill of Austin, Texas, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, as well as by her sons-in-law Will Downs and Bob (John R.) Mohan and daughter-in-law Laura Kelso.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Peter and I, along with our daughters Alexandra and Seton, send our prayers for healing of this great sorrow and loss. We are with you in our thoughts — and have such fond recollections of PA laughing, enjoying every detail of social gatherings, and relishing “the ties that bind.” She is missed, yet her memories live on to bring some solace. Peace and love to all the O’Neills from the Taltys