Mary Teresa (Vachon) O'Neill, beloved wife, mother, sister, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend passed away September 15, 2022 at Indian River Memorial Hospital/Cleveland Clinic in Vero Beach, Florida. She was 97 years young.

Born in Holyoke , MA on August 17, 19 25 she was the oldest child of Oswald Vachon and Mary Cronin Vachon. She, her parents and her siblings shared their home with her mémere (French for grandmother) and that home is still part of the Vachon family. Hers was a happy and carefree childhood. Her family had a rustic summer camp in southern Vermont where she enjoyed several happy years exploring the outdoors – particularly hiking to "the gorge" where she and her friends and family enjoyed a cool dip! She was voted "Most Pleasing Smile" in her Holyoke High School Class of 1942.

She and her husband, Gene, began their married life in Holyoke and later owned homes on Cape Cod , MA and in Vero Beach , FL. Initially a snow bird, she and her family later became full time residents and Vero Beach was a part of her life for over 50 years. During that time she was an active participant at St. Helen Catholic Church. She was a volunteer at the annual Harvest Festival for many years and a longtime member of the Council of Catholic Women. Her faith and her family were her cornerstones and her generosity and the example she set were an inspiration to her children. She was an avid reader, a sender of notes and cards, devoted viewer of Jeopardy and a lover of Ruffles Sour Cream & Onion potato chips!

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Eugene O'Neill, who passed in 2008 her brother, Bill (1988) her sister, Anne (1993) and brother, Jim (2016). Left to mourn and honor her legacy are her sister Elaine,

and children Gene of Vero Beach, Tom (Susan) of Arizona, Anne Schulte (Bob) of Massachusetts, Mary Barnes (David) of Virginia, Eileen (Karen Stoddard) of Maryland and Kevin (Christine) of Georgia. She also leaves thirteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren who she loved and who loved her.

The O'Neill family wishes to thank the many kind caregivers of the VNA, her many wonderful neighbors at Walkers Glen who were so good to her, the St. Helen community and special friend, Shelia Haire who added so much to her life in her later years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 200 Vesey Street, 28 th Floor, New York, NY 10281. (JDRF.org) or the Edmundite Missions, 1428 Broad Street , Selma , AL 36701 (edmunditemissions.org).

A visitation will be held Sunday, October 9, 2022 at Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home, Vero Beach , FL from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m with a wake service at 6:30pm . A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 10, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Helen Catholic Church in Vero Beach .  The service will be live streamed at https://vimeo.com/ event/2450554

Interment will take place at a later date in St. Jerome Cemetery, Holyoke, MA.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home, Vero Beach , FL. Online condolences may be made at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com