Age 41. 55 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA. Born 7/29/1901, in Fall River. Died 11/29/1942 (Sunday), at Boston City Hospital, carbon monoxide poisoning (death certificate). Head of the commercial department at B.M.C. Durfee High School, in Fall River. Was in a foursome with Dr. William O'Connor, age 46 (Born 3/19/1896. Died 4/11/1980, age 84. Last residence New Bedford, MA), a veterinarian, also her married older brother Mr. Thomas O'Neil, age 48, and his wife Catherine, age 43, both dead, all of New Bedford, MA. Party had been motored by Dr. O'Connor north to Boston to attend the afternoon season-ending B.C./Holy Cross collegiate football contest at Fenway Park. Group had finished dinner in the main dining room. Was in the process of leaving the club when fire broke. "Coat checks in hand, they stood waiting for Miss O'Neill [sic], who had gone to the ladies' room..." (The Standard-Times, New Bedford, 11/30/1942). Dr. O'Connor to a reporter (quote): "If the fire had started three minutes later, the four of us would have been safely outside..." (Fall River Herald News, 12/01/1942). Her companion lost his overcoat with the keys to his car, went to the nearby Hotel Statler where locksmith Ernest Maestranzi, age 24, fit a new ignition key (Mr. Maestranzi at the Boston Fire Dept. inquest, 12/04/1942: "Mr. [sic] O'Connor...had been drinking quite heavily and I told him not to take the car..."). Her remains were identified with those of her brother's wife Sunday evening at City Hospital. "Miss O'Neil was an excellent teacher, a tireless worker, a friend and councellor to all" ('43 The Record Book yearbook dedication, B.M.C. Durfee High School, source of the photo shown here). Was single. One of 38 casualties with at least one sibling also lost (plus Earl Tattrie, age 31, and Mrs. Harrilyn "Dolly" Taft, age 21, victim half-siblings). At age 41 was the second-eldest of 94 never-married females present to perish (after patron Miss Laura Ryan, age 42, single). One of only three (of seven) victims named "O'Neil" with their surnames spelled correctly (with a single "l") on the official November 1943 Boston Committee on Public Safety list of casualties (also Miss Anna Rita "Sally" O'Neil, age 19, and Miss Kathleen O'Neil, age 17). Was the lone fatality from the seaside Bristol County city of Fall River. Parents Mrs. Isabelle P. (Joyce), same address, and the late Mr. James H. O'Neil. Burial at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River.

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