Charles O'Neil, 71
OLD CHATHAM, N.Y. â€' Charles O'Neil, 71, of Albany Turnpike Road died Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, at home following a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Great Barrington, Mass., on Oct. 13, 1937, the son of Terrence Patrick and Esther Springstube O'Neil, he attended the former Housatonic Grammar School and the former Searles High School there.
Mr. O'Neil was employed as a machine operator with Tri-State Machine in Lebanon until retiring in 2008. He first worked as a service technician at the former Clark-Aiken Co. in Lee, Mass., for 15 years. He then became a special officer for the Great Barrington Police Department from 1962 to 1975 and worked as a Berkshire County deputy sheriff from 1965 to 1975. During the early 1970s, he also owned and operated Berkshire Feed and Grain in Great Barrington.
In 1976, he moved to Iowa, where he worked as a machinist for Cherry Burrell International Paper Co. in Cedar Rapids for 18 years. He retired and moved to Old Chatham in February 1994.
Mr. O'Neil attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Barrington and Sheffield, Mass., and was a former member of the Housatonic (Mass.) Congregational Church. He also had been a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, serving on its board of directors. He enjoyed woodworking and was a registered professional dog trainer, specializing in property and personal protection, search and seizure and basic canine training.
He and his wife, the former Linda Peters, cared for 32 foster children over the years. Each one was cared for, loved and thought of as their children in their hearts. They loved to see their families grow, watching as their children and foster children had their own families had children, including 17 foster grandchildren.
Besides his wife, whom he married Oct. 16, 1976, in Monticello, Iowa, he leaves three sons, Bret O'Neil of South Carolina, John "Terry" O'Neil of Sheffield and Michael O'Neil of Great Barrington; a grandson, Logan O'Neil; 32 foster children, including Diep Trinh, Chau Tang, Tien Trinh, Hung Nguyen, Hiep "Henry" Lam, Hai Lam and Hoang "Michael" Lam, their spouses Xuan Truong, Hieu Trinh, Tri Ngo, Phuong Lam, Tisha Hang Lam and Hak Yin Srey; 17 foster grandchildren; his sisters-in-law, Patricia Kronen and her husband, the Rev. William Kronen, of Alberta, Canada, and Elizabeth Wells and her husband, John Wells, of North Egremont, Mass.; a brother-in-law, John Peters of Great Barrington, and nieces and nephews, Donna Kronen, Dennis Ralf, Susan Kronen, Kelly Irving, Karin Kronen, Tim Finnigan, Bill Kronen, Mariela Kronen, Matthew Kronen, John Wells, Becky Wells, Robert Wells, Beth Wells, Tosha Wells-Rowberry and many great-nieces and -nephews.
He was predeceased by his foster son Sao Srey in March 2007 and by his nephew CWO Stephen Wells in February 2004.
FUNERAL NOTICE â€' A memorial service celebrating the life of Mr. O'Neil will be conducted by the Rev. Bob Isaken on Friday, Aug. 28, at 11 a.m. at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Egremont.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Community Hospice of Columbia/Greene Counties through the funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.