Marian O'Neil

Marian L. O’Neil, who left this life on August 19, 2018, was born in Mishawaka on March 24, 1916 to Winifred (Atkinson) Wurz and Arthur Franklin Wurz. Both are deceased, as is her brother Nelson. After M.H.S. graduation in 1933 she attended Indiana University for two years and began her working career at the Wheelabrator Corp. office for five years.

On February 20, 1941 she married Wilbert D. O’Neil in St. Joseph Church where both were lifelong members. He passed away in January 2000. Their children are Dennis Michael O’Neil of Lake Oswego, OR and Patrice Claire Little of Boulder, CO. Dennis and his wife, Barbara, gave Marian three granddaughters, Shelly Haugh and Christy Shaver, and Laura O’Neil. Shelly and Christy have given Marian four great-grandsons: Gavin, Colin, James, and Trevor, and a great-granddaughter, Crissan. She was also close to her sister-in-law, Dorothy Wurz and her family: Gregory, Judy, Barbara, and William.

Marian loved her family and home life but also cherished memories of working for the Saint Marys College Library for 18 years as a secretarial assistant to Sr. Rita Claire C.S.C., head librarian.

She always felt that her most important accomplishment was completing studies to receive her B.A. degree in English Literature in 1977 while working at Saint Marys College. She was vitally interested in the arts and in writing, having studied journalism at I.U. She wrote several articles for the Tribune over the years.

Besides belonging to St. Joseph Church and its Rosary Society Marian was an officer of the Womens Art League of South Bend and active in the Hibernians , the K. of C. auxiliary, and the St. Marys Alumnae Club. She was also active in Camp Fire when her daughter was young. She enjoyed bridge and book groups to the end of her life.

She liked cooking and sewing, especially by making accessories for her home from remnants given by her brother, Nelson, who created custom drapery and upholstery in Washington D.C. for 50 years. Barbara Ageropolos, Mary Leu Brockway, and Velva Brackett all kept her going until her death even though she was slowed down by the effects of a stroke in 2004.

Her funeral will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

A committal service will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Mishawaka, IN at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marian O'Neil, please visit our floral store.