Elaine O'Neill

Mary Elaine O'Neill, 95, of Grand Island, formerly of St.Libory, died Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, at the Grand Island Veterans Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Libory's Catholic Church in St. Libory. The Revs. Sidney Bruggeman and Marty Egging will concelebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the parish cemetery, with graveside military honors by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family. Mrs. O'Neill was born on Jan. 30, 1921, at Eddyville, the daughter of Arthur M. and Mary E. (Murray) McEntee. Elaine grew up in Eddyville where she received her early education and graduated from high school. In 1941, she entered the St. Joseph's Nursing School in Alliance where she later graduated from. She served in the United States Army from Jan. 1, 1945 to March 23, 1946 having served in the Philippians and Japan. She then returned to Eddyville and worked at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. On St. Patrick's day in 1948, she met Eugene J. O'Neill at a dance and they were united in marriage on Sept. 27, 1948, in Eddyville. The couple first lived on the O'Neill homeplace, northwest of St. Libory and in 1952, moved into St. Libory. Over the years, Elaine worked in private nursing. She was kind of the “community nurse” in St. Libory. She also worked as a postal clerk at the St. Libory Post Office for a number of years before retiring in 1981. She and Gene then moved into Grand Island. Gene died on Feb. 13, 1982. She continued to live in Grand Island and moved to the Grand Island Veterans Home in Feb. 2015. She was a longtime member of St. Libory's Catholic Church and after moving to Grand Island, was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. She was also a member of Catholic Daughters of America Queen of Peace Court No. 2227 of Grand Island, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul. Elaine enjoyed quilting, stamp collecting, playing cards, baking cookies and was an avid reader. She is survived by four daughters and two sons-in-law, Judy Davis of Lincoln, Rosemary Dickinson of Grand Island, Maureen and Wally Adams of Grand Island and Mary Ann and Jim Donoghue of Columbus; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Dan O'Neill of Clinton, Tim and Jeanette O'Neill of Grand Island and Pat O'Neill of Nashville, TN; one sister, Bernardine Ferguson of Grand Island; 19 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Bob Davis; daughter-in-law, Dixie O'Neill; a brother, Paul McEntee; and two great-grandchildren. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice. Please sign the guestbook for Elaine by visiting www.petersfuneralhome.net.