Corinne Mary O’Neil, 67, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, life-long advocate for deaf and hard of hearing people, peacefully entered into eternal rest on Friday, October 20, 2023.

“Connie,” was born on April 4, 1956 in Fall River, Massachusetts, the eldest, beloved daughter of Corinne A. (Neves) and William L. O’Neil of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

A life-long advocate for deaf and hard of hearing people in Southeastern Massachusetts, Connie was a 1974 graduate of Dartmouth High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education at Framingham State College, and a Master of Arts in Deaf Education at Western Maryland College. Connie’s career as a teacher and vocational counselor for deaf and hard of hearing people spanned 37 years, the majority spent at Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. Always a lover of young people, Connie spent eight years teaching deaf and hard of hearing elementary and high school students through the READS Collaborative DHH Program based in Middleboro, Massachusetts.

Living Christ’s Gospel message, Connie was known for making herself available 24/7 to her deaf and hard of hearing clients whose needs included employment, but also on occasion housing, treatment for substance use disorder, and advocacy during incarceration. Connie received an award from the State of Massachusetts for the creative way she worked with small businesses and corporations to accommodate the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people in their employ. Seeing no separation between her work and personal life, Connie volunteered interpreting at AA meetings and Sunday services in the Christian community. Co-workers frequently commented on Connie’s enormous love and devotion for her clients.

A lover of literature and poetry, Connie taught English at Barnstable High School for four years and was a prolific writer of poetry and journals throughout her life. Connie’s ability to quickly and expertly complete multiple crossword puzzles on a daily basis and her tireless pursuit of the most challenging 1000-piece puzzles were a testament to her keen mind, intellect and determination.

Known for her heart, soul and joy on the dance floor, Connie loved nothing better than a family gathering that included her parents, her five siblings and their spouses, ten nieces and nephews, two great-nephews, and many cousins. Connie never let a birthday or holiday go unnoticed or failed to urge loved ones to “text me when you get home” as they departed.

Connie’s humility, sensitivity, gentleness and genuine kindness earned her countless friends among co-workers, fellow Christians, members of the deaf and hard of hearing communities, schoolmates, neighbors and hospital personnel, a great many of whom were present to Connie in the years, weeks and days leading up to her passing from ovarian cancer. A faithful and devoted follower of Jesus Christ all her life, Connie most recently was a communicant of New Life South Coast. All who knew Connie knew her to be “Christ’s hands and feet on the earth,” consistently and tirelessly.

A wake, Celebration of Life and reception will be held on Sunday, November 5th, 2023 beginning at 12 Noon at Waring-Sullivan at Fairlawn, 180 Washington Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719. A burial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday November 6 at Saint Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747, followed by interment at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Fall River.

In lieu of flowers, online donations in memory of Connie O’Neil may be made to the American Society for Deaf Children at: https://deafchildren.org/. Donations made by check may be mailed to: READS Collaborative, Attn: Business Manager, 105 East Grove Street, Middleboro, MA 02346. Please write “In memory of Connie O’Neil” on the memo line.