P. O'Connell Obituary

At home in North Guilford, CT, Wednesday, April 13, 2011, P. Edward O'Connell, 87. Husband of the late Bernadette Garthwaite O'Connell. Born in New Haven, CT on June 14, 1923, son of the late Dennis and Mary McDermott O'Connell. Survived by sons Shawn E. O'Connell, wife Kerry of Killingworth, CT, and Edward P. O'Connell of Killingworth, CT; daughters Noreen M. O'Connell of Middletown, CT and Bernadette A. O'Connell of CA. Also survived by one grand-daughter Kayleigh Aine. Predeceased by four brothers, John P., D. Gerald, William J., and Francis A. O'Connell. Ed graduated from Hamden High School and worked for SNET, New Haven, CT as a central office installer for 18 months prior to entering the service. He served 25 months overseas with the 312th Bombardment Group of the US Army Air Force in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre of Operations during World War II. His tour of duty and campaigns included: New Guinea, the Western Pacific, the Southern Philippines and Luzon. He was honorably discharged November 1945 from Ft Devens, MA attaining the grade of SGT. He returned to SNET, retiring from the Medical Department with over 40 years of service. During those years, he married "Detsy" Garthwaite, April 10, 1948 and together they raised four children. He and his family resided in North Branford for a short time before building his own home in 1956 in North Guilford. He was active in his community – Chairman of the Guilford Standing Building Committee, the Guilford Board of Education, the Telephone Pioneers of America, and the Elks Club. He had a passion for college basketball, especially the NCAA tournaments. He was an avid Boston Red Sox fan, golfer and enjoyed woodworking. He traveled extensively and came to love the people and island of Anguilla. Ed O'Connell touched the lives of many – and those reading this will have those personal memories to keep. He defined the word gentleman in his marriage, his family, his friends, and his community. His principles will live on in all of us .We will all continue to learn from him even in the wake of his death. Friends are invited to a Mass of Christian burial in St. George Church, 33 Whitfield St, Guilford, on Tuesday, April 19th at 10am. Burial will follow Mass in the North Guilford Cemetery, 159 Ledge Hill Rd., Guilford. Friends may call Monday, April 18th from 4 – 8pm at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford, CT 06437. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Ed may make contributions to Our Lady of Grace Monastery, 11 Race Hill Road, Guilford, CT 06437 For more information or to send an online condolence for the family, please visit www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com