ONEONTA, New York — Deacon Thomas P. O’Connell, 84, died Jan. 4, 2020, at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
Friends are invited to greet the family from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St. in Oneonta.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at St. Mary’s Church, 39
Walnut St. in Oneonta, with Father David Mickiewicz officiating.
He was born on December 23, 1935, in Astoria, New York, the son of Michael and Lillian (West) O’Connell.
After graduating from St. John’s University in 1960 and earning a master’s degree in 1963 from Siena College, he taught at Christian Brothers Academy (1960-1963), Wappingers Central School (1963-1970), and SUNY-Delhi (1970-1995). At Delhi he taught English and philosophy and in 1977 received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. From 1996 to 2000 he taught theology and served as the department chair at Bishop McGuinness High School in Winston-Salem. He also served on the Board of Education for the Delaware Academy Central School District.
In 1976 he was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Albany, New York. He served at St. Peter’s Church in Delhi, St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta and Cooperstown, and St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem. He also preached or lectured at various other area churches.
Born and raised in “The Big Apple,” he nevertheless truly enjoyed his “Thoreau Experience” living close to nature in his beloved hills of Delaware County.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Katherine (Schuller) O’Connell; their four children, Eileen (Paul) Keating of Ithaca, Gregory (Vicky) O’Connell of Delhi, Kristen (Tom) Ford of Ithaca, and John (Michelle) O’Connell of Wallingford, Connecticut; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a brother Michael; a sister-in-law, Eileen Walker; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister Kathleen and his brother Patrick.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Delaware County Senior Meals Program, 97 Main St. Suite 2, Delhi, N.Y. 13753.
To offer condolences to the family, please go online to www.grummonsfuneralhome.com.
Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home of Oneonta are in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald