Carol B. O'Neill

On Thursday, July 16, 2020, Carol Anne O’Neill (nee Barnett), passed away at her home in Drexel Hill, PA. She was eighty-four years old and treasured the love of her family and friends. Beloved daughter of Ernest and Anne Barnett, she grew up in Upper Darby, PA. A gifted athlete, Carol played baseball as a young girl, was an avid bowler and excelled at dance. Carol was a student at the Elsie MacDonald Studio for Dance, received her ballet teaching certificate at fifteen and was often highlighted in the Annual Review held at Township Hall in Philadelphia. In high school she joined the National Association of Dance & Affiliated Artists, Inc. in New York, which eventually led to an audition with the Radio City Rockettes. Carol graduated with honors from Upper Darby High School in 1954. In addition to her dancing skills, Carol was also an accomplished roller skater - a skill that she shared with her beloved husband Dennis Michael O’Neill Sr. and how they first met. They were married sixty-one years before his death in 2017. Carol worked for many years as an executive assistant that included careers with Emery Air Freight in Philadelphia and the Salvation Army in Redondo Beach, California. She was often praised for her organizational skills, her friendliness and her integrity. Carol loved to read - particularly mysteries. She was also a gifted writer. Her uncle Donald Proctor - a former newspaper reporter - often praised her prose and letter writing. Carol enjoyed traveling with her husband, Dennis. In recent years, Carol cherished the friendships she and her husband made at the Senior Bingo clubs and with neighbors on Francis Street in Drexel Hill. She also loved dogs and was particularly fond of Finn, her constant companion the last three years. Most of all, Carol loved spending time with family and was especially proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Carol is survived by her son, Dennis Michael O’Neill Jr. (Janice); her two daughters, Linda McGough and Susan O Vansomeren; her grandchildren: Michael, Nicholas, Steven, Harrison and Bridgette Fritz; S. Liam and Grainne McGough; Carrie Little, Edward Andrews Jr. and Sean Vansomeren; Christopher, Connor and Meredith O’Neill; and her many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Anne Barnett, her husband Dennis Michael O’Neill Sr. and her beloved grandson Elliott Dennis Vansomeren. A simple graveside service will be held Friday, July 24, 11 a.m. at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens and Mausoleums, 532 S Gulph Road, King of Prussia. A celebration of Carol’s life will be held at a future date following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carol B. O'Neill

May 5, 1936 - July 16, 2020