Margaret A. (Gaffny) O'Connell's Obituary
Margaret (Peggy) Amelia (Gaffny) O’Connell, a longtime resident of Methuen, MA, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2025, at Lawrence General Hospital.
Born and raised in Lawrence, MA, Peggy was the beloved daughter of the late John and Helen (Mulry) Gaffny. She graduated from Lawrence High School with the Class of 1947, and from Felt & Tarrant Comptometer school in Boston in 1951. After graduation, Peggy started her professional career at General Electric in Lynn, MA before dedicating herself to raising her family.
Peggy was the devoted wife of the late William J. O’Connell. Together, they raised three children who were the pride and joy of their life. After her children were grown, she resumed her professional career as an administrative assistant at Raytheon.
A woman of strong faith, Peggy was a devoted communicant of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. She was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. Peggy enjoyed travelling to Hawaii and Ireland, trips to Foxwood, playing 45’s and Bingo at the Methuen Senior Center, reading and spending summers with family and friends at Salisbury Beach and winters in Jupiter, Florida.
Peggy especially cherished hosting the Tuesday night club gatherings with her close circle of friends—a tradition that lasted over 25 years. Her warmth, wit, and unwavering devotion to family and friends brought a smile to all who knew her.
Peggy will be sadly missed but lovingly remembered by her daughters, Colleen M. Jimenez (O'Connell) and her partner, Douglas Sears of San Luis Obispo, CA, and Margaret “Peggy” Anne O’Connell of Methuen, MA, by her beloved grandchildren, Jennifer, Marlon “Mike” and his wife Malisa, Brandon, Jason and his fiancé Lauren, Steven, and by her adoring great granddaughter Skylar. Margaret was predeceased by her son, Timothy O’Connell, and siblings, Edward Gaffny, Catherine Sheppard, Harriet Palmieri, Helen Driscoll, John Gaffny, Anne Morrissey and Theresa Murphy.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Our Lady of Good Counsel, (St. Augustine Chapel), 128 Ames St., Lawrence, MA. Burial to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, 130 N. Lowell St., Methuen, MA.
One of Peggy’s final wishes was, in lieu of flowers please do a kind deed for someone in need.
The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the O’Connell family.
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