QUEENSBURY, N.Y., and BUCKSPORT – Hilda Carley O’Neill, 87, passed away Dec. 13, 2011, after a brief illness. Hilda was born on Verona Island, daughter of the late Harold and Hazel Carley.
Hilda graduated from Bucksport High School in 1943 and went on to work for A&P grocery store in Bucksport, where she met her future husband, Paul O’Neill; for Central Maine Power Co. and for the Bucksport school lunch program. Hilda and Paul were married June 3, 1951, and enjoyed 37 wonderful years together until his death in 1988. She moved to Sartell, Minn., in 1988, and to Queensbury, N.Y., in 2004, to be near her son, Everett and his family. Hilda was a Christian lady with a great sense of humor who always put the needs of others ahead of her own. Her mother Hazel was a welcome member of the O’Neill home for several years. Hilda provided care and support to Paul as he fully recovered from two strokes and helped Everett in many ways as he raised his family. Her ready smile and desire to help others, even as she grew older, will be remembered by those who knew and loved her. Devoted daughter and sister, loving wife, caring friend, great cook – especially homemade bread, doughnuts and whoopee pies – and perfect Mom are all terms that described Hilda.
Hilda will forever be loved and missed by her “little boy,” Everett and his wife, Lori, of Bangor; grandchildren, Paul O’Neill and his wife, Jodi, of Plymouth, Minn., Emily O’Neill of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Brooke and Brady Batease of Bangor; sister, Anne Thacker of Halifax, Mass.; several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her beloved husband, Paul, Hilda was predeceased by her brothers, Herbert and Alvin. The family thanks Stanton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Queensbury, N.Y., especially Patty Ross and the staff on South Wing, for the support provided to Hilda during the past few years. One could not ask for a better group of people to care for a loved one than those at the Stanton. Also, a special thank you to Jill and Dave Burt for making Hilda smile every day.
A celebration of Hilda’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Hilda’s name may be made to Franklin Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1727, Bucksport, ME 04416 or Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine, 477 Congress St., M1, Portland, ME 04101.