In Memory of Mary Kay O'Neil
Mary Kay O'Neil was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, sister, and educator. Anyone who knew her saw what a generous, kind-hearted, fun-loving soul she was. Her sense of humor will be missed by all.
She was born in Oak Park, IL to Alice and Leonard Skoglund on December 9, 1950 and had five brothers (probably what helped her develop that sense of humor!).
Mary Kay met the love of her life, Paul O'Neil, while she was attending St. Mary's College and he was at Notre Dame. They married in 1974 and this August would have marked their 40th anniversary. Mary Kay was the most amazing, caring, loving mother to her two lucky children, Katie and Paul. And I don't think there is anyone more suited to the role of doting grandmother than Mary Kay. She adored her two grandchildren, Travis and Evelyn as well as her son in-law Todd and daughter in-law Kristin.
Mary Kay worked in the Durango School District for over 25 years. She was the librarian at Park Elementary School for most of that time. She touched the lives of countless students who will, no doubt, remember her story-telling abilities in addition to her kind demeanor.
To all her countless friends and family, she will be remembered as the woman who always had a joke to tell, an ear to listen,a helping hand to hold, and a kind word to say. She loved hiking, Zumba, crossword puzzles, but most of all just being with her family and friends.
Mary Kay always put others' needs before her own. Her kindness and concern for others was evident until the end. Even at her sickest, she would concern herself with the comfort of her visitors. She donated her body to research so that even in death, she is still putting her concern for others
first.
Please consider making a donation in her name to the Ocular Melanoma Foundation so that more work can be done on creating awareness about and hopefully finding a cure for this insidious disease.
Written by Kate Franke, Mary Kay's Daughter
