Sr. Mary Agnes O'Neil, Dc

MENANDS- Sister Mary Agnes O’Neil, Daughter of Charity, 98 died peacefully at St. Louise House in Menands on December 8, 2024. She was born September 12, 1926 in Bridgeport, CT to John and Mary O’Neil. Mary Agnes was predeceased by her beloved siblings Helen Byrnes, Jack and Tom O’Neil and brother-in-law Harold Byrnes, sisters-in-law Diane O’Neil and Rita O’Neil, nephew Chip (Harold) Byrnes and niece Marisa Maldonado. Thirty one nieces and nephews were blessed to know her as Auntie Mary. Many cousins, friends, colleagues and her community of Daughters of Charity were also woven into the “fabric of her life” as Sr. Mary Agnes would often say. She loved her Irish heritage and wore the “Green” and shared many a story whenever she could. Her motto “Live-Laugh-Love” was exemplified in her daily life. She brought with her a sense of joy and hope and her smile and Irish laughter made one believe all would be right in the world.

Sr. Mary Agnes graduated from St. Augustine’s School in Bridgeport, CT (Class of 1940), Central High School (Class of 1944) and St. Vincent’s School of Nursing (Class of 1947) and received her Master’s in Health Administration from Boston College. She was a proud Veteran of the US Navy Nurse Corps, having served as a Cadet Nurse from 1944-1947. In 1948 she entered the Daughters of Charity, where she devoted over 75 years serving the poor and vulnerable, advocating for justice, peace and an equitable and compassionate world. Mary Agnes served in many hospitals including Carney Hospital in Boston, St, Mary’s in Troy, NY, St. Vincent’s in Jacksonville, FL, Good Samaritan in Pottsville, PA, Emmitsburg, MD and her beloved St. Vincent’s in Bridgeport, CT. She served at St. Vincent’s from 1969-1976 where she coordinated the building of the new medical center, serving as President/CEO while overseeing its completion. During this time she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from Sacred Heart University for her service to the Bridgeport Community. She served as Assistant Provincial and Health Councilor for the Northeastern Province of the Daughters of Charity from 1990-1994. In 2012 she retired to the St. Louise House in Menands, NY, where she served until her death in the Ministry of Prayer for all those in need.

A wake service will be held for Sister Mary Agnes on Monday, December 16, 2024 from 4-7 pm at DePaul Chapel, 96 Menand Rd., Menands. Sister’s funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:30 am in DePaul Chapel, followed by interment in St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in her memory to St. Vincent’s Swim Across the Sound https://swimacrossthesound.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org