Grace O'Neill

Grace, age 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, January 12, 2024. She was born and lived her early years in Independence. She married Franklin D. Thomas, and sadly at age 20, she was widowed after his fatal car accident. Seven years later, she met and married Donald C. O’Neill, then the newlyweds, along with her two young children moved to Germany, then to Colorado, while Donald served in the military. Ultimately they all returned to Independence where their family grew with two additional children, Donnie and Joe. Donald and Grace were married for more than 50 years. During the formative years, Grace worked with Tangipahoa Parish as a school bus driver. She brought her compassionate heart to her work each day as she welcomed students to their school day in the morning and made sure that they safely returned home in the afternoon. When she recognized someone in need, she would do what she could for them. Grace was truly a beautiful lady inside and out who had a welcoming, generous heart and a smile that could light up a room. She was always on-the-go with family or friends. She loved to go shopping 7 days a week, hunting out those bargains. Her family always came first, especially her precious grandchildren. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend who is already dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Grace is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Thomas; sons, Frank Thomas (Joyce), Donnie O’Neill, Jr. (Gina), and Joe O’Neill (Christie); grandchildren, Christie, Theresa, Frankie Lynn, Chloe’, Brennon, Haylie, and Mia; great-grandchildren, Kirsten, Kelsey, Shelby Jo, Gavin, Tristyn, Destiny, Mackenzie, Jaden, and Lillian; great-great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Bryn, Clara, and Ashton; sister, Jo Ann Galafalo (Frank); brother, Raymond J. Liotta (Jackie); along with numerous nieces and nephews. Grace is preceded in death by her two husbands, Franklin D. Thomas, Sr. and Donald C. O’Neill, Sr. parents, Joseph and Theresa Liotta; sisters, Anna Delowry, and Fannie Ollie. Family would like to recognize and thank Grace’s caregivers, Mary Lee Robertson, Marie Evelyn Lloyd, Juanita Walker, and Shirly Carter. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the visitation at Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home at 12012 Hwy 190 W. Hammond, LA 70403 on Friday, January 19, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church in Tickfaw starting promptly at 12:00 noon. Fr. Michael Galea will officiate with interment to follow in the Colonial Cemetery.

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Grace O'Neill

February 19, 1939 - January 12, 2024