Ida C O'Neill

Ida Catherine Madonna O’Neill lived a faith-filled life for 96 years. The daughter of Nicholas Madonna and Angelina Orlando Madonna, she was born in New York City on October 7, 1928, grew up in Garfield, New Jersey, and died December 13, 2024. After high school graduation Ida worked for AT&T in Manhattan, and a co-worker introduced her to a group of young friends at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Jersey City, where she met John J. O’Neill. Maybe it was their mutual sense of joy and adventure – and love of verbal humor – as well as their shared faith, that initially attracted them to each other. They were married on September 27, 1952, and were blessed with 43 years of happy marriage. Ida was a devoted mother to (Sr) Kathleen O’Neill, John (and Joanne Alibrandi) O’Neill, Angela O’Neill, and Margaret (and Kyle Outlaw) O’Neill, grandmother to Nicole Hernandez Notarangelo, Joseph Hernandez, Christopher Hernandez, Madeleine Outlaw, Ian Outlaw and Alexander Outlaw, and great-grandmother to Edward Notarangelo. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband John. Growing up as an only child, Ida loved having a larger family after her marriage, and she was a great favorite among her nieces and nephews. When grandchildren entered her life, her cup was full, and they were the delight of her final decades. Helping others was always Ida’s way. Her services included terms as president of the St Therese PTA and St Therese Scapular Confraternity; she helped raise money for the American Cancer Society and was an annual poll worker. Ida enjoyed a long stint as a regular volunteer at Englewood Hospital. But she also felt naturally drawn to assist on a personal level those around her who needed help, and she became a mainstay to several elderly neighbors. Her faith in Christ and active participation in the Catholic Church defined Ida’s life and being. Once her children were grown, she attended Mass daily until she was no longer able, and she always had a special devotion to Our Lady. Ida will be remembered for her vivacious character and stream of humorous quips – she was always great company and brought a sparkle into the room. She loved to travel, and at age 80 rode a camel in Egypt. Crossword and jigsaw puzzles, nature, and books delighted her, but her greatest joy was always the company of other people. For the last seven years of her life Ida resided at Brightview in Tenafly, where she died peacefully of old age.