NORA ELLEN O’NEILL

Nora Ellen O’Neill, 89, of 550 Osborne St., Fort Frances, Ont., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 in Thunder Bay, Ont.
Nora was born Nov. 4, 1920 in Rainy River, Ont. In the 1940s, she moved to Fort Frances, where she has resided since.
On April 18, 1952, she was united in marriage to John J. O’Neill and together they raised their family.
Nora was a member of the Lutheran Church in Fort Frances for many years. Her family was her greatest joy, spending many an hour at the kitchen table for a chat and a wonderful meal. Her door was always open, and the pot of coffee on for family and friends, and she was always eager to hear of any news.
You never knew who would be joining the family for dinner as she always welcomed everyone to the table.
All the children would gather after school to enjoy what Nora had baked, and were especially excited when cinnamon buns appeared. It was one of Nora’s trademarks—her delicious cinnamon buns!
She also spent many hours in her gardens with vegetables and flowers, and family and friends enjoyed the bounty during the winter months with her canning and freezing.
She always would be thrilled with the news of a new addition to the family, especially her grandchildren.
She enjoyed and was well-known for making quilts, which she lovingly gave to her family members and friends, who now will cherish these gifts in her memory. She will always be admired for her tremendous inner strength, strong faith, and contagious sense of humour.
She was predeceased by her parents, Mella and Phil Roblin; husband, John J. O’Neill; brothers, Leslie and Gordon Roblin; sisters, Gladys Jonassen and Irene Wilson; and brothers-in-law, James Moore, John Jonassen, and Roy Gosnell.
She is survived by her sons, Dennis of Fort Frances, Ont. and James Sr. of Wabigoon, Ont., and daughter, Dianne and husband, Todd Williams, of Fort Frances, Ont.; her two grandchildren, James O’Neill Jr. of Fort Frances, Ont. and Christa Lynn O’Neill of Toronto, Ont.; sisters, Evelyn Moore of Kelowna, B.C. and Phyllis Gosnell of Dryden, Ont.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate Nora’s life was held Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at 3 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with Pastor Marcel Chenier officiating.
Interment will take place in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances at a later date.
The honourary pallbearers were Nora’s nieces and nephews.
Her eulogy was delivered by long-time family friend, Marilyn Allan. Nora’s granddaughter, Christa O’Neill, read another eulogy that had been written by Nora’s sister, Ev Moore.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 920 Frenette Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3N4 or c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com