Georgina Smith O'Neil

Georgina Smith O’Neil, 96, of Easton, MD, passed away September 23, 2013, at home at Heartfields Assisted Living in Easton. Gini was born on March 23, 1917, in New York City, the second child of Augustus J. and Georgina Smith. She grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and briefly Waterbury, CT, with her beloved brother Albert J. Smith, who preceded her in death, along with her half-siblings Ray Smith and Constance Smith Ferebee. She studied the piano during her childhood and through high school, passing her love of music onto her children. She attended St. Walburga’s Academy in NY (now Holy Child Academy in Rye, NY), graduating in 1934. She continued her education with the Sisters of the Holy Child at Rosemont College, PA, where she majored in English and French, was the President of the Kistler Club (the Honor Society of the college), President of Le Cercle Français, and editor of the school newspaper, The Rambler. She was also active in the yearbook, El Circulo Loyola (the Spanish Club), and played field hockey. She was described in her yearbook as a “versatile scholar with bright eyed enthusiasm,” characteristics she kept until the very end of her life. She graduated from Rosemont College in 1938 and worked in NYC for the Pan American Magazine among other literary outlets. She married Michael J. O’Neil on July 17, 1943, in New York City, having met him at a Regis High School dance when they were high school students. She continued to live in NYC while her husband, then Lieutenant O’Neil, was deployed during WWII as the Communication Officer aboard the U.S.S. Inflict in the Pacific, sweeping harbors and coastlines for mines in advance of larger naval craft until 1946. Upon Mike's return from WWII, they moved their growing family from Manhattan to East Orange, NJ, where he practiced law during the 1950's. They moved to Orange, NJ, in 1960, as Mike became Legal Counsel at NJ Bell Telephone, and later a Judge for the Superior Court of NJ. They raised 7 children, were members of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in South Orange for 50 years until she and Mike moved to Easton, MD in 2006. During their years in Orange, Gini was active in the Literary Volunteers of America-teaching adults to read, as well as the American Heart Association. She also looked after elderly and less fortunate community members and always had a “project”. Many of these involved helping out at her children’s schools including St. Benedict’s Prep, Newark; Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, Summit and Lacordaire School in Montclair. She also enjoyed painting watercolors, particularly flowers and landscapes. She loved the ocean, sunsets, reading the New York Times, doing cross-word puzzles, writing notes, drinking hot tea, remembering peoples’ birthdays with cards and spending time with her family. When Mike died in Nov 2007, Gini was widowed after 64 years of marriage. In 2008 she moved from their house in Easton, to an apartment at Heartfields Assisted Living where she thrived for the last five years of her life, with many dedicated and caring staff and friends. She was active and healthy until the last few months of her life putting up an incredible effort to recover and get back to her apartment just recently after a short illness in Easton Memorial Hospital and a stay at William Hill Marvel Hall for physical therapy this summer. She had a love of life and appreciation for beauty in nature until her very last day. She fought a good fight, dying in her sleep on September 23, 2013. Georgina is survived by her seven children, Thomas M. O’Neil of Halifax, N.S.; Mary R. O’Neil and husband Greg O’Leary of Seattle, WA; Michael B. O’Neil and wife Catherine Stewart of Vancouver, B.C.; Kathleen O’Neil and husband Bob Luker of Toronto, Ont.; David O’Neil of MA; Margaret O’Neil of Morristown, NJ; Judy O’Neil and husband Bill Dennison of Easton, MD; her grandchildren, Patrick (partner Tammy) and Christopher O’Neil, Michael O’Leary, Brendan O’Neil and wife Susanna, Georgia O’Neil, Naomi Luker, and Elizabeth and Laura Dennison; her great-grandchildren, Thomas K. O’Neil and Zocia O’Neil; and niece, Trudy Morrison of Kimberton, PA, and her nephews, George Smith of Dover DE, Ray Smith of Poughkeepsie NY, James Alan Smith of Southhampton, NY. A Funeral Liturgy for Mrs. O’Neil will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Easton, MD. Friends may call on Monday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., in Easton, MD. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Cordova, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rosemont College, Attn: Experience Fund, 1400 Montgomery Ave Rosemont, PA 19010, or to Literacy Volunteers of America, 90 Broad St., Bloomfield, NJ 07003.

Georgina Smith O'Neil

March 23, 1917 - September 23, 2013