Sister Eileen O’Neill (Sr. Maria Martin), 93, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died at Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham, MA on July 28, 2020. A native of Holyoke, Mass., she was the daughter of Martin and Nora (Scanlon) O’Neill.
Sister Eileen entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from Sacred Heart Parish in Holyoke in 1946. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Holyoke. She earned a A.B. degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee and attended Westfield State College.
Sister taught in the Worcester Diocese at St. Stephen’s, Worcester; St. Joseph’s, Cherry Valley, and Marian Hill High School, Worcester. She also served at Sacred Heart in Pawtucket, RI and St. Joseph in Newport, RI. In addition she taught at St. Mary Morning Star in Pittsfield, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Springfield, and St. Mary’s in Westfield. Sister was a 2001 recipient of the NCEA Department of Elementary Schools award for 50 years of Outstanding Service as a Catholic School Educator.
Sister Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Martin and her sister Marie O’Leary. In addition to her Sisters in community, she leaves to cherish her memory her brother John, her brother-in-law Edward O’Leary and several generations of loving nieces and nephews, including Eileen O’Leary Sullivan, Susan O’Leary Mulhern, Carol O’Leary Rigali, Michael O’Neill and Gregory O’Neill.
A Burial Service for Sr. Eileen will take place in Mont Marie Cemetery at 10:00AM on Friday, July 31, 2020. A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.