Reverend Timothy H. O'Neill

Reverend Timothy H. O’Neill, 81 passed away Saturday October 16. 

He was born in the city’s westside on January 17, 1940 to Hubert and Mary Catherine McIntee O’Neill.  Father O’Neill graduated from St. Brendan Elementary and Ursuline High School before entering and graduating from St. Gregory and Mount St. Mary of the West seminaries in Cincinnati.  He also earned a master’s in education (Guidance Counseling) from Xavier University.  Fr. O’Neill did graduate work at St. Louis University, and later in religious studies at San Francisco University, earning a master of divinity degree.  He was ordained on May 27, 1967 by the Most Reverend James W. Malone, Bishop of Youngstown in the Cathedral of St. Columba.  Following ordination he served as associate pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Canton and as Stark County Director of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO).  He joined the faculty at Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in 1970, teaching religion and serving as chaplain for the school’s athletic teams. 

Father Tim was known for beginning his classes by telling his students to just “be” for the first few minutes of class.  Father O’Neill’s first pastorate was in 1987 at St. Paul Parish in New Middletown.  In 1992 he was appointed as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Hubbard, until his retirement in 2015.   Father O’Neill lived by the mantra “Unselfish giving equals happiness.”  His unselfish giving was evident with the many awards he received over the years.  Besides his dedication as a teacher and pastor, Fr. O’Neill co-founded The Difference Makers, a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those in need, especially children.   In 2009 he was selected by the Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center as a Great Communicator honoree “for his outstanding contribution to communications and service to the community.”  He served as a member of the board and volunteer counselor at the Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic.  Father O’Neill also received the prestigious “Ellis Island Medal of Honor” from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, the highest award granted to American citizens. 

He leaves to cherish his memory his brother, Thomas and sister-in-law Bernardine O’Neill, a niece and several nephews. 

Along with his parents, Fr. O’Neill is preceded in death by his sister Ann Marie Sullivan. 

Friends may call from 4 to 7 P.M. Wednesday Oct 20 at the Cathedral of St. Columba, where there will be a   Vesper Service following at 7 pm. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend David J. Bonnar Bishop of Youngstown at 1P.M. Thursday Oct 21 at the Cathedral. 

Material tributes can be made in Fr. O'Neill’s name to St. Patrick Parish, 225 North Main Street, Hubbard, Ohio 44425 for help rebuilding of the church.

Family and friends of  Reverend Timothy O’Neill may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and leave condolences for the family. 

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