Georgiana C. O’Connell, who died August 19, 2018 at Wingate Residence in Providence, R.I., was born in Dorchester, Mass., on February 1, 1925 to William and Margaretta Conklin. After graduating from Simmons College in Boston in 1947, she worked in New York City in the fashion magazine industry for several years.
She married Eugene O’Connell in October 1950 and was the proud mother of six daughters. Georgiana, known as Gige, was a 54-year resident of Monterey, Mass. She taught for 30 years spending most of her time as a teacher in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District including teaching at the Monterey School House.
She served on various boards within the Town of Monterey., She was the first woman elected to the select board where she served for almost 10 years. She was a member of the Our Lady of the Valley parish and served on the Gould Farm Board. Georgiana was passionate about family, Monterey and being a great teacher and role model to her students.
She was predeceased by her husband Eugene in 1987 and by her grandson Matthew Christopher in 2008. She is survived by her six daughters and their spouses Suzanne of Middletown, Conn., and Sandisfield, Mass. (Thomas Christopher); Lynne of Brockport, N.Y. (John Gardner); Adrienne of Washington, Mass. (John Branton); Mary-Anne of Ft. Mill, S.C. (Frank Pope); Gwynne of Fairfax, Va. (Cathy Ganek); and Joanne of Providence, R.I. (Chris Foster), as well as six grandchildren, Andrew and Josh Gardner, Spencer, Siobhanne and Madelinne Pope and Margarete Foster.
Funeral services for Georgiana C. O’Connell will be held on Saturday August 25 at 11 a.m. with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Sheffield with the Rev. Peter Naranjo, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Corashire Cemetery in Monterey. Family will receive friends on Friday August 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, 33 South St., Great Barrington, Mass. 01230. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Gould Farm, P.O. Box 157, Monterey, Mass. 01245. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.
