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Margaret Anne "Peggy" O'Neill
June 26, 2017

Obituary

If a lifetime of devoted service to family, friends and church defines a saint, there is a new Saint Margaret in Heaven. Margaret Anne “Peggy” O’Neill, age 88, went to the Lord on June 26, after a lengthy illness. She and her husband of 66 years, Vince, raised five children in Granada Hills and Ventura.
Peggy and Vince were high school sweethearts in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and have been together for over 70 years. They married in 1950 after Vince’s WWII naval service and graduation from college and the FBI National Academy. Peggy worked in secretarial jobs during and after the war years. After an initial FBI posting in Texas, the couple moved to Los Angeles, where Peggy devoted herself to motherhood and homemaking for Vince and their five children. Peggy was active as a parent at St. John Baptist de la Salle parish and school in Granada Hills, serving a term as president of the Parish Guild.
The family moved to Ventura in 1966. When daughter Mary, the youngest, reached elementary school age Peggy resumed her secretarial career at Our Lady of the Assumption School, where she became part of the close-knit faculty and administrative team for 15 years. In 1984, upon nomination by Principal Sister Mary Judeen, Peggy was named the national Catholic School Secretary of the Year. Peggy was the guest of honor at the awards dinner in Boston. During the kids’ teenage and young adult years, Peggy welcomed with open arms many of their friends and significant others into their Ventura home near the beach. She particularly enjoyed her mother’s extended visits to California, and those of other New Jersey relatives.
After retiring, Peggy volunteered for many years at the Catholic Social Services food pantry in Ventura, and was an active member of the womens group YLI at Assumption Church. Peggy and Vince enjoyed trips to Ireland, Hawaii, the east coast and various locations in the western United States to visit family and retired FBI friends. During Peggy’s long final illness, she still enjoyed visits from family, and was never more content than with a baby in her arms. When told of an imminent visit by relatives from New Jersey, she once responded, “The Irish are coming!”
Peggy is survived by her husband Vince and four of her five children: daughter Mary O’Neill of Ventura and Mary’s sons Luke Losli of Bend, Oregon and medical student Matt Losli of Los Angeles; son Rob O’Neill and partner Heidi Andrew and Rob’s daughters Shanna and Daria, all of Salt Lake City; son Chris O’Neill and wife Janette of Ventura, and their children, Dr. Caitlin O’Neill of Los Angeles and sons Corey of Ventura and Garrett of San Luis Obispo; and son Vince O’Neill Jr. and wife Christie of Ventura, and Vince Jr.’s children Colleen (husband Travis Opgenorth, daughter Emerson, son Kellen) of Sherman Oaks, and sons Dan and Casey of San Francisco. Peggy is also survived by her brother Bob Ellsworth and wife Marie of Long Beach Island, New Jersey, and several east coast nieces, nephews and in-laws.
Peggy was predeceased by her son Tim, her parents Francis and Margaret Ellsworth, and her sister Kay.
The family is grateful to Peggy’s Brightstar caregivers, especially Rosie, Ariana and Marina. The family suggests donations in Peggy’s honor to the Tri-county Alzheimers Association.
Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial Saturday July 8, 2017 at 10am in Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, 3175 Telegraph Road Ventura. Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E. Main Street Ventura.

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Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home & Cremation Service
757 East Main Street
Ventura, CA 93001
805-643-8623