Violet O'Neill

Violet Anna O’Neill, 98, (known as “Degie” to her school classmates, “great Nana Muz” to her great grandchildren, and “Muz” by many) of Aldan, PA, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2019 with her family by her side in the VITAS Inpatient Hospice Unit, Darby, PA.

Violet was born in Darby, PA to Fred and Anna DeGenova on September 27, 1921. She went to high school at Darby High and graduated in 1939. She worked as a telephone operator at Bell Telephone in Lansdowne, PA prior to her marriage to James F. O’Neill, on September 7, 1946 at Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Darby PA.

Violet was a full-time mother, housewife and homemaker as she and Jim raised their seven children in the home that her husband, Jim, was born in. Violet returned to work at the Aldan School Cafeteria when her youngest was in fifth grade (1970) and later transferred to the Walnut Street School Cafeteria (1974) then moved to Penn Wood East in 1982. Violet, Jim, and family were members of St Joseph's Church in Collingdale, PA. Violet enjoyed reading, walking, knitting, crocheting, gardening, sitting on her front porch, attending garage sales, as well as making pizzelles for special occasions and home-made chocolate cream Easter eggs. She also made the best home-made lasagna in the area! She was always the first to cut any cakes that were served for birthdays or anniversaries, whether at her home or others. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 1000 in Aldan and you could always find Vi in the kitchen cooking and cleaning up for Legion events and family events. Following your visit to Wayne Avenue, you never left Vi’s home without a bag filled with something. Violet had a generous and kind spirit, helping neighbors and friends; she loved to laugh, enjoyed life, and was beloved by many.

For the last three years of her life, Violet was cared for in her home by Mary Mattaldi, her full-time loving caregiver, who became a member of the O’Neill family.

Violet the loving mother of James (Linda) O'Neill, Linda O'Neill, Joseph Michael O'Neill (Debbie), Maureen Hough (Ave Monaghan), George O'Neill, the late Thomas O'Neill, and Cheryl Ann Sprows (Ed); her grandchildren, Fran Hough (Melissa), Melissa Dobosz, Tom Eisenhower (Natalie), Elizabeth O'Neill, Katie Kutz (Dan), Sarah O'Neill, Tom O'Neill (Kristen), Alysia O'Neill, Jacqueline Farley (Kevin), and Brian Sprows (Alison); her great-grandchildren, Aidan Hough, Tom Eisenhower, Alek O'Neill, Shane Hough, Charlee Eisenhower, Jude Eisenhower, Griffin O'Neill, Declan Hough, Harper Dobosz, Luca O'Neill, and Logan Farley; and her siblings, Connie Senerchia, Florence Fiorenza, and Fred DeGenova (Peggy).

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitation 10-11 AM Friday, December 27, 2019 at St. Joseph Church, 500 Woodlawn Avenue, Collingdale, PA 19023, followed by her Funeral Mass 11 AM. Interment SS Peter & Paul Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.