Eileen O'Neill

Eileen “Ellen” O’Neill, age 83, of Claymont, DE, formerly of Newark, DE, passed peacefully at home surrounded by her family, January 6, 2021.

Eileen was born in Philadelphia, PA and raised in Mountcharles, Donegal, Ireland, to William (courageous member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood) and Ellen McGroarty. She graduated high school and left for America at the age of 18 years. She married and raised her family in Delaware. She joined St. John the Beloved Church in 1969 and then Holy Rosary Catholic Church in 2017.  Eileen was a graduate of Goldey Beacom College and worked at Delaware Park Racetrack over 25 years, starting as a mutuel teller in 1980, then payroll manager, assistant accounting manager, and retired as the Assistant Controller.

Eileen will be remembered for her love of gardening, knitting and needlepoint work, writing poems, reading, and sending thoughtful  letters to friends and family.  She was a great mother who exhibited and expected a strong worth ethic and inspired each of her five children to be the best version of themselves.

In addition to her parents, Eileen was preceded in death by her siblings, Ann Marie, James, William, Patrick, and Charles McGroarty.  She is survived by her brother, Joseph, of Cork Ireland; her children, Rory O’Neill (Colleen) of Fairbanks, Alaska, Ann Marie Phillips (Richard Carr) of Claymont, DE, Brian O’Neill of Newark, Delaware, Kevin O’Neill (Barbara) of Glen Mills, PA, and Sean O’Neill (Nancy) of York, PA; 12 grandchildren; her sisters-in-law; many nieces and nephews; many cousins; her dog, Riley.

A Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, January 11, 2021 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Claymont, DE followed by Private Burial in All Saints Cemetery, Wilmington, DE. After the funeral, due to the Covid pandemic the family will work with anyone unable to participate on a means suited to them for celebrating Eileen's life.   The funeral mass may be live-streamed, watch Holy Rosary Church's website at www.hrparish.com. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either of Eileen's favorite charities:  The Food Bank of Delaware (www.fbd.org) or the Sunday Breakfast Mission www.sundaybreakfastmission.org.

To offer condolences online, please visit Eileen's listing at:  www.Gebhartfuneralhomes.com  (302) 798-7726.

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