Richard O'Connell

Richard O’Connell passed away at the Mary Elizabeth Nursing Center in Mystic on Monday, October 31, 2022.  Richard was born on February 1, 1933, in Norwich, to Michael and Catherine (McNally) O’Connell.   His beloved wife, Mary (Sheehan) O’Connell predeceased him on May 22,2022, after sixty years of marriage.   

Richard graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1951 and went on to earn an Associate in Science from Mitchell College in 1953.  Richard served in the US Army and was honorably discharged from active military service in August 1955, when he transferred to the US Army Reserve to complete eight years of service.  Richard was employed as an estimator by the Berlin Construction Company and later by Thames Steel in New London as a steel estimator for many years.  Richard enjoyed building things and was a skilled carpenter.     

Richard married Mary (Sheehan) O’Connell on February 23, 1962, at S.S. Peter and Paul Church in Norwich.  Richard and Mary built their home on Case Street in Norwich where they remained throughout their marriage.  They were a devoted and inseparable couple who vacationed in Florida numerous times and made a cross country trip in a van.  They travelled to Ireland with Mary’s sister and nieces in 1997.  Richard and Mary enjoyed family holidays and parties and spending time with nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. 

Richard is predeceased by his mother and father as well as four brothers, Raymond O’Connell Sr., Harold O’Connell, Donald O’Connell Sr., and Charles O’Connell and three sisters, Mary O’Connell, Helen Waldron, and Catherine Murton and a nephew Donald O’Connell Jr.  He is survived by nephews Raymond O’Connell Jr., James O’Connell, Paul O’Connell, and Robert Waldron and a niece, Kathleen (O’Connell) Yellen.   

There will be a graveside service at St. Joseph Cemetery in Norwich on Monday, November 7, at 11:00am.  Family and friends are invited to the home of Nancy and Frank Ennis on Miller Road in Preston after the service.

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