Obituary of Ruth M. O'Neill

Ruth M. O’Neill, 103, formerly of Antioch, Illinois, died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at the Grand Victorian in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

       Ruth was born November 21, 1921, in Chicago, Illinois to Joseph H. (Hub) and Leticia E. (Letty) Wiot. She had fond memories of her grade school experiences at St. Agnes Catholic Grade School and Kelley High School, and briefly attended Northern Illinois University.

She married John J. (Jack) O’Neill on November 20, 1941. She had wonderful memories of the 35 years they were married and the times since grade school before that. He preceded her 49 years ago on March 7, 1976. She was a homemaker and dearest mother to six children. Outside of the home, she worked as a comptometrist at Acme Steel during WWII, owned and worked with other family members at Avon Hardware in Round Lake, worked at O’Neill Hardware in Lake Forest and worked in the dental office for Dr. Boarini in Antioch.                             

Ruth’s volunteer work included teaching computers to seniors for the University of Illinois Extension Office, secretarial work for her computer club and the Taws and Paws Square Dance Club in Kenosha, the cancer society, the food pantry for St. Peter’s Church in Antioch and the senior center.

After Jack’s death she enjoyed good times and overcame the bad ones. She went to Hawaii with the “fearless five”, consisting of herself and four lady friends, had two trips to Europe and went on two cruises (on one she and three friends were called the Golden Girls by fellow passengers), and a third cruise to Alaska. She traveled, visiting various family members and friends in different states over the years.

She took up square dancing and later added round dancing in 1981, after the shock of losing her sister and best friend, Ann Lindsay. Ruth began ballroom dancing and later took up line dancing. She also added card playing and working out at Curves and the YMCA pool to her activities. She was a survivor of breast cancer after developing it in 1982. She put up with broken bones and joint replacements over time, rarely admitting any pain. She wanted to be remembered as a dancing, card-playing, fun-loving person!

Ruth is survived by her children Jack (Judy), Peg Kisiel, Ruth Ellen (Gary) Durling, Sharon (Dan) Kusek, Michael (Cindy), and Tim (Mary), 18 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jack, her sisters Ann and Dorothy, her brother-in-law Joe Lindsay, her son-in-law Dan Kisiel, her grandson Vincent Kisiel, and special friend, “B” O’Neill.

The visitation will be held on Friday, January 17, from 4:00-8:00 at McMurrough Funeral Chapel, 101 Park Place, Libertyville, IL 60048.

The funeral mass will follow on Saturday, January 18 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple Ave, Libertyville. Internment will immediately follow at Ascension Cemetery,1920 Buckley Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048.

Memorial donations can be made in Ruth’s memory to Our Lady of the Lakes Parish/St. Peter Campus online at https://ourladylakesparish.org or by mail to 557 Lake St., Antioch, IL 60002, or to a charity of your choice.