John Joseph O&Amp;#39;Connell

John Joseph OConnell, 72, of Rockford, died at 3:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 surrounded by family. Born on Jan. 31, 1940 in Woodside, Queens, N.Y., to John Joseph and Helen Margaret (Creighton) OConnell. Graduate of St. Agnes High School, Manhattan, NY, and the State University of New York. Honor Man from the Great Lakes Naval Station and a veteran during the Vietnam era. Served in the US Navy as a hospital corpsman.




John married Rosemary A Revell on May 1. 1965 in Portsmouth, VA. Earned a BS in 1974 and a Masters of Liberal Arts in 1983 at Rockford College. Lived in Rockford for 41 years. Employed at SwedishAmerican Hospital for 36 years. He was Lab Administrator, Director of Clinical Services, and later Manager of Laboratory Systems, retiring in 2007. An active member of Holy Family Catholic Church, he served for several years as lector. He was an avid reader and gardener, enjoyed many years of camping and traveling, and also enjoyed classes at Rock Valley College, CLR. He was a devoted husband and father to his 8 children and beloved Granddad to 20 grandchildren.




He is survived by his wife, Rosemary, 8 children: Anne Marie OConnell of Rockford; SMSgt John J OConnell, USAF; Catherine (Jim) Shannon of Mundelein, IL; Joan (Todd) Behme of Woodridge, IL; Patty (Matthew) Nichele of Roscoe, IL; Mary (Todd) Field of Rockford, IL; Elizabeth (Adam) Cross of Mundelein, IL, and Dan (Victoria) OConnell of Rockford, IL; sister, Marilyn Huether of Long Island, N.Y.; 20 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by parents.



Funeral Mass 10 am Thursday, February 9, 2012 at Holy Family Catholic Church 4401 Highcrest Road with Fr. David E. Beauvais officiating.. Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2012nbsp;with a prayer service at 7:30 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Visitation will continue from 9 am to 9:45 Thursday morning at church.




Memorials may be made to Stepping Stones 706 N. Main Street, Rockford, Il 61103 or The Haitian Project, Inc. P.O. Box 6891 Providence, RI 02940.