Elma L. O'Neill

Elma L. (Alexander) O’Neill, 97, of Allen, TX, formerly of St. Paul, died Saturday, June 18, 2011, at the Victoria Gardens Nursing Center in Allen. Mrs. O’Neill was the last surviving niece of Grover Cleveland Alexander. She chose cremation. A memorial service will be held during GCA Days at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 9, 2011, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Ray Kosmicki will officiate. American Legion Auxiliary honors will be conducted by Carl Mogensen American Legion Auxiliary Unit 119 of St. Paul. Inurnment will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 8, 2011, at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. O’Neill was born on July 6, 1913, at Elba, the daughter of George F. and Aura (Whitney) Alexander. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Alvin Greenwalt of Allen, TX; a son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Carlynn O’Neill of Danville, Calif.; 4 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild all living in the Texas area; and 2 step-grandchildren and 1 step great-grandchild. Elma grew up in Howard County and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1931. She was united in marriage to Clement E. “Clem” O’Neill on April 28, 1941, at St. Libory. The couple farmed in the St. Libory area until 1945, when they moved to Spalding. In January 1950, the family moved to St. Paul where Elma began working for the City of St. Paul. She was appointed to the job of City Clerk in 1970, being the first woman to hold that position. She retired from the City of St. Paul in 1981. Clem died on May 25, 1992, and Elma continued to live in St. Paul until moving with her daughter and son-in-law to Allen in 2010. After her retirement she began to embroider quilts, making 40 quilts for family and friends. She was a longtime member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and its Council of Catholic Women and also a member of Carl Mogensen American Legion Auxiliary Unit 119, having served as a past president. She was also an Honorary Clerk and longtime member of the Nebraska Municipal Clerks Association. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Howard, Marion and Omar Alexander; and three sisters, Erma Strang, Hazel Mackie and Lois Hatfield. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family’s choice or the St. Paul EMT’s.