Obituary of Thomas L. O'Connell

O'Connell, Thomas L. Vestal: Thomas L. O'Connell, 77 of Vestal passed away peacefully on Thursday July 5, 2012 after a brief illness; surrounded by his loving family. He was predeceased by his parents Joseph J. and Evelyn Watson O'Connell, older brother, Daniel; and sisters in law Laury O'Connell and Mary Ethel Mahoney. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Carolyn Leonard O'Connell; his children, and their families, Maureen and Kevin Phillips, Buffalo, MN and their children Brittany, Lindsey, Zackary; Col. Joseph and Sandy O'Connell, Orlando, FL and their children, Meghan Couture, Kaitlin O'Connell, Chad and Braxton Powell; Kathleen and Patrick Farrell, Monroe, CT; Margaret and Dennis Smith, McDonough and their children, Alex and Brian Leone and Logan and Nathan Smith; two great-grandchildren; his sister and brother in law, Marilyn and John McGlynn, Cooperstown, brother James, Endicott; sister in law, Dolores Bartholomew, Austin TX, Lorna and Robert Walters, Vestal; brother in law, Edward Mahoney, Wilmington, NC. Tom was a graduate of St. Paul's High School and attended Broome Tech. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He worked for the Binghamton Police Dept., IBM Corp and retired from New York Life Insurance Co. after 40 years. He was an active member of St. Vincent DePaul Church, Vestal since it's inception serving in the capacities of usher, lector, Eucharistic Minister and choir and was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He spent many hours working with and helping his family, and friends, with computer technology. He enjoyed having the latest and greatest technology. He enjoyed playing golf with his good friends on Monday's and Thursday's. But most importantly he enjoyed being surrounded by and involved with his family. The family would like to thank the CCU and ICU staff at Wilson Medical Center for their compassionate care. A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Vincent DePaul Blessed Sacrament Church, Clubhouse Road, Vestal Monday at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack and Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton Sunday from 2-5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in memory of Tom may be made to the American Heart Association , 59 Court Street, Binghamton, NY 13901 or Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, 165 Clifton Blvd. Vestal, NY 13850. Published in Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin from July 7 to July 9, 2012