Mary Alice O'Neill

Mary Alice O’Neill (née Lyman), 83, of Manassas, Virginia, passed away on August 20, 2022 from endometrial cancer. She was predeceased by her husband, Francis J. O’Neill and her son Daniel O’Neill and is survived by six children: Margaret Jones of Manassas, VA, Kathleen Norris of Fairfax, VA, Theresa Shuart of Rich Creek, VA, Michael O’Neill, of Mount Airy, MD, Patricia Sheffield of Manassas, VA, and Sharon O’Neill of DeWitt, VA, as well as 25 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Mary served in the United States Navy in the late 1950’s and was one of the first female electronics technicians. She was an active Girl Scout leader, instructing countless girls and boys in camping, sewing, cooking and other skills. Mary was a person who demonstrated her love for her family, friends, neighbors and people in general by service. She was a Girl Scout leader, den mother, Squire Roses leader and a volunteer for Claude Moore Colonial Farm in McLean, VA, a 17th century park where they re-created and re-enacted life on a tenant farm circa 1771, where she was fondly referred to as Grandma Mary. She was an extraordinary cook who often volunteered and ran the kitchen for Knights of Columbus events. When her grandchildren were young, she established “Grandkid’s Day” where all of her grandchildren would come, spend the night, and do all manner of creative things. Grandkid’s day remains a family tradition. After 20 years as a stay-at-home mom, once her children were in school, she began working outside the home, first in a bicycle shop and then joining the federal government where she worked for 18 years, retiring in 1996. In retirement she was a member of All Saints Catholic church and was active in the George Brent Council Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary and Squire Roses. She also taught water and chair exercises to seniors and volunteered at the Novant thrift shop in Manassas, VA. She volunteered at numerous assisted living facilities where she taught jewelry making, painting and provided tea parties. It was nothing for her to have a tea party for upwards of 50 people. Visitation will be at Pierce Funeral Home in Manassas, VA on Monday August 29, 2022 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Services will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas, VA, followed by a Military Honors Ceremony at Quantico Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society using this link to her memorial page. http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Mary_ONeill

Mary Alice O'Neill

October 12, 1938 - August 20, 2022