1932 – 2015
Miriam (Scheffel) O’Connell, 83, of Sabin Landing Putnam, CT died peacefully Monday, September 21, 2015. She was the loving wife of the late William C. O’Connell. Born in Glendale, NY, she was the daughter of the late Vincent A. Scheffel and Elizabeth Frauendorf Scheffel. After her mother died, her father, devoted aunt Christina Green and stepmother Ellanor Scheffel raised her.
A New Yorker at heart and a New Englander over time, Miriam was a stellar student who went on to work as an Executive Assistant at the New York Telephone Company. She loved her home and beautiful yard on Timberlee Lane in Westford, Massachusetts where she raised their family. Miriam worked as an assistant to the librarian at Westford Academy. She was also a proud member of the Westford Senior Center where she organized outings and kept the books. She enjoyed reading, gardening and watching the daily mass on EWTN. She was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan.
Her family was her passion. Miriam was the devoted wife of 40 years to William C. O’Connell and loving mother to Elizabeth O’Connell and fiancée Riad Miah and Kathleen O’Connell Johnson and her husband Jay D. Johnson. She was grandmother to Jill and Allan MacQuarrie and Jayme Johnson and great grandmother to Jessica, Jenna, Julia and Jaynie. Her siblings Kenneth and Mae predeceased her.
The O’Connell family is extremely grateful to her many loving caregivers and friends. Elegant and dignified always, she will be profoundly missed by all who knew her.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday September 26, 2015 at Most Holy Trinity Church, 568 Pomfret Road, Pomfret, CT. Burial will be at 10:00am on Monday, September 28, 2015 where she will join her cherished husband at St. Catherine Cemetery, Pine Ridge Rd., Westford, MA. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the following organizations: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Miriam O’Connell to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or viawww.jimmyfund.org/gift. Or to: The Friends of the Cameron Senior Center in memory of Miriam O’Connell at Westford Senior Center, PO Box 2223, Westford, MA 01886. Or to: Eternal Word Television Network,5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL, 35210 where Mrs. O’Connell watched their daily Mass. Please share thoughts and intentions in the memorial guestbook at www.GilmanAndValade.com
Colette Rhoney
Beth —
We are so sorry for your loss. We’re holding you very close in our thoughts.
Colette and John
Elle Gurskis
Dear Beth and family,
I’m so sorry to hear the news of your mom’s passing. Sending you so much love and so many hugs during this painful time. I’m sorry I’m so far away in China. I wish I could be there to lend support to you when you’ve given so much to my family and me over the years. I wish your mom could have been at your and Riad’s wedding. I know how proud she was of you and Kathy.
Love forever, your goddaughter,
Elle
Dill & Dulcie (Riad's Parents)
It was with great sadness that we learnt about the passing of your mom, we extend our deepest sympathies at this trying time.
Our hearts reaches out to you, members of your family, and all those who cared about Miriam.
With much love and warmth,
Dill & Dulcie
Jennifer and Dan
Our dear “Mrs. O” remains a model for a life well lived. Her loving daughters – so successful, so compassionate, so beautiful – are proof that “the apple never falls far from the tree.” She will be missed but not forgotten. Requiescat in pace.
Leona Preston
I’m so sorry for your loss. Miram was a beautiful kind women who touched a lot of hearts and will always be remembered by all who knew her.
Love Leona
Kim gancarz
so sorry for your loss…… she was a beautiful woman inside and out….she will be missed by many
Hilton Family
Kathy, Beth & families. We are so very sorry for your loss. We loved Mim as if she were our own & we will truly miss her!! XO
Lynn O'Connell
Dear Kathy and Beth-
I am so sorry for your loss.
I wish I had the chance to see her before she passed. I would like to believe that she heard me say on the phone that she was always my favorite aunt. I have lovely memories of her from when I was young. She was simply the kindest and most elegant woman. You were lucky to have her as a mom, but she was also lucky to have such great daughters.
There can be no words that can console one with a loss so great, but please know that my thoughts are with you both now during this very sad time.
Love,
Lynn
Claire Sanders Swift
Dear O’Connell family,
I send my condolences to you, the entire O’Connell family for the loss of your amazing mother, Miriam. She clearly lived a creative and spitfire life and through you, left the world a better place. I had the honor of working with/for Beth O’Connell at NBC in NYC. Beth was always graceful, calm, beautiful and sharp as they come. I know she got this from her mom. 🙂
When mothers leave the world, they leave a void, very hard to fill. But knowing she lives on in each one of you, is our blessing. My heart goes out to you at this difficult time.
Most sincerely, Claire Sanders Swift in Washington, DC
Diane Holmes
Beth and Kathy,
I was so sorry to read of your mother’s passing. My family and I have so many treasured memories of your family from those wonderful Timberlee Lane days. Your father was a true gentleman, and your mother was certainly a”gentle” woman; together they raised two wonderfully compassionate, thoughtful, and successful daughters.
I stop by to visit your dad whenever I am at St. C’s cemetery, and I will certainly continue to visit both of them in the future. In the meantime, please accept my most sincere condolences for your great loss.
Diane Holmes
Michael and Sherry
To the O’Connell family:
Our hearts are with all of you during this very sad time. Beth please accept our condolences and know that we are thinking of you, loosing one’s mom is a great loss. Our hearts are with you.
With love and support,
Michael and Sherry
Nancy
Dear Beth and Kathy,
I was saddened to learn of the loss of your mother. I hope the time you spent with her these past several weeks will bring you comfort. Please know you are in my thoughts.
Nancy
Nancy
Dear Beth and Kathy,
Very saddened to learn of the loss of your mother. I hope the time you spent with her, especially these past several weeks, brings you comfort during your bereavement.
Nancy
Denise Andrews
Kathy & Beth and family,
Sending love, prayer and friendship at this unimaginable time.
Love
Denise
Cathy Coughlin
Kathy and Beth,
So sorry to hear about your mom. She was a lovely lady and always made me feel welcome the many times we were there growing up. Although this is very hard for both of you, I’m sure she is happy to be back with your dad. I will be away this weekend so won’t be able to be there but my thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Love,
Cathy
Elaine Pietras
Dear Beth, Kathy and Family,
We are very sorry to hear about Miriam’s passing. She was the anchor for the high school library for so many years. The students and faculty always loved to see Miriam and appreciated her guidance and support. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers. Family meant everything to Miriam and she was always very proud of her girls.
Bless you all,
Elaine Pietras and Family
Beatrice McLogan
Dear Beth, Riad, and Kathy,
How shocked I was to finally open my email (problems!) and read your sad news. Am sure the timing was very difficult for the coming nuptials–how much you want her there, I can only imagine. My sympathy to you all.
Love, Bea
Karen Kindler
Dear Beth, Kathy and Family,
I am so sorry to hear the passing of your Mom. She was a very special woman who had a way of making your friends feel like she was their second mother. She rooted me on or consoled me in defeat. Whenever I was back in Westford I would visit her and we would talk for hours as to what was new with you girls and what was going on in my life. Her legacy will live on in you girls. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Love, KK
Brooks Crowell
Beth, Kathy,
I am praying that God will comfort you and all the family and friends in this most difficult time through the presence of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen
Depend heavily on your faith for strength and remember the promises of Scripture. You are in my thoughts and prayers through these days.
Love, Brooks
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8: 38-39
Dorothy H Hall
Dear Kathy and Beth — I am so sorry to her about your mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I remember when Marie and her husband and I celebrated your Mom’,s 80th, (I believe). My love to you both. Dottie Hall
Liz and Bob Sugar
Dear Beth,
Bob and I want to express our sympathy to you during this difficult time. We are so sorry for your loss. I am sorry I never met your mom, who sounds so wonderful after reading her obituary.
Sending you much love, and in hopes of seeing you very soon.
Liz and Bob