Obituary of Jane O'Donnell

Jane O’Donnell (nee Marinelli), a longtime Madison resident, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by the love of her family on Thursday, March 7, 2019. She was 100.

Jane was born in the family home in New Providence on May 19, 1918 to the late Louis and Elsie Marinelli. She was raised in New Providence and was a 1935 graduate of Summit High School. After Jane married her beloved husband, the late Richard “Buddy” O’Donnell, the couple moved to Morristown. They would eventually move to Madison in 1946, where they settled and raised their two daughters.

Jane was a telephone operator with NJ Bell System of Madison on their party-line, then transitioned to a career as an administrative assistant with Bell Labs, First National Iron Bank, and Foster Wheeler, where she retired from in 1983. She cared for her husband Buddy with love and attentiveness at their home, until his passing in 1989.

Jane was an active parishioner of St. Vincent Martyr Church and a member of the church mother’s guild when her daughters were in school. She was also a member of the Madison Seniors. She loved history, reading, doing crossword puzzles and going to Atlantic City. Jane especially loved to help her grandchildren with homework and school questions -ask Nana!

Jane was predeceased by her beloved husband, Richard “Buddy” O’Donnell; her brothers, Vincent, John, Ely, Louis, Mario Marinelli and Frank Caccavale; her sisters, Hope Maynard Gomez & Mary Seritella; her special friend & sister-in-law, Anna Farndell; and her son-in-law, Joseph Quinn. She is survived by her two devoted daughters, Mary Collinson and her husband, George of Newark, DE & Patricia Quinn of Whippany; her grandchildren, Joseph Quinn, Kristiann Gudelanis(Ray-Michael) and Richard Quinn (Amy) especially missed by her great-grandchildren, Nick Quinn, Anthony Quinn, Taylor Gudelanis, Austin Gudelanis & Alexa Quinn; her brother-in-law, Charles Arteglier and daughter Nancy. Her many nieces and nephews will always remember Aunt Jane.

Funeral services will begin at 9:00AM on Monday, March 11, 2019 at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison, followed by a 10:00AM Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated at St. Vincent Martyr RC Church, Madison. Interment will follow at St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Madison. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation to celebrate Jane’s life on Sunday from 2-4PM & 7-9PM at the funeral home.

Charitable contributions may be made in Jane’s memory to St. Vincent Martyr Church (In memory of Richard & Jane O’Donnell), 26 Green Village Road, Madison, NJ 07940 or to the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 29 Prospect Street, Madison, NJ 07940.

The family expresses much appreciation to staff and health care aides from Senior Home Care Services. (Maria Hernandez, Myrlande Canada and Marie Fabian) and to Atlantic Health Hospice Homecare. (Kathy Pierce, Denise and staff)