Joseph J. O'Connell

Joseph J. “Pat” O’Connell, 75, longtime resident of Amherst, NH died peacefully on May 28, 2021 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, after a short illness. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 20, 1946, the son of the late Joseph J. and Eleanor H. (Kroeger) O’Connell. Pat was a graduate of Conard HS in West Hartford, CT class of 1964. He attended Southern Connecticut University for 1 year before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the Vietnam War, was awarded the Purple Heart, and honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1969. Upon his return home, he earned his bachelor's degree from New England College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1973. He and his wife, Bonnie, lived in West Hartford, CT for 2 years before making their permanent home in Amherst, NH for the past 43 years. Pat was employed as a sales representative with National Manufacturing for most of his career. He was exceptionally loyal and dedicated to his profession, earning multiple awards and recognitions for his outstanding sales and performance. Pat loved his customers, and made many lifelong friends throughout his years with the company. Outside of work he was an avid sailor and enjoyed many years of cruising with his family along the New England coast. Winter was filled with family ski trips in NH, Maine, and Utah. His other interests were coaching youth hockey and girls lacrosse. He loved to support high school football, and attended most of the local games. Pat was a communicant of St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Bedford, NH. Besides his loving wife of 45 years, Bonnie (Boudo) O’Connell of Amherst, NH, he is survived by his daughter, Maura (O’Connell) Sweeney and her husband, Jordan of Arizona; and two granddaughters, Londyn and Emery. There are no calling hours. A memorial mass will be held on Friday, June 4th at 11am in St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 190 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Catholic Charities NH at www.cc-nh.org.