Eunice Mae O'Neill

Eunice Mae (Maerz) O'Neill Age 94 of Fridley MN passed away 6/17/ 2021. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Church of St. William 6120 5th St NE Fridley, MN 55432 at 11 AM, Thursday 6/24/2021 with visitation preceding at 10 AM. Eunice was born in Hillsboro, ND on May 21, 1927. At 6 months of age, her family moved to Saint Paul where Eunice graduated in 1945 from Saint Paul Central High School. She was the fifth of eight children born to Frank and Mary (Buhl) Maerz. After graduating from high school, Eunice attended business college and worked for several businesses including railroad and insurance companies where she learned to work on some of the first computers. She met and married Robert ("Bob") Denis O'Neill and they had seven children. They moved about Minnesota following Bob's coaching and teaching appointments (Welcome, Bloomington, Fridley) and staying close to family. Of all her homes, she most loved her "forever home" built by Bob and nestled along Rice Creek in Fridley. This was her gathering place for everyone's birthdays and all the holidays. Eunice cooked more food than anyone could possibly eat. During football season, she prepared late night buffets for Coach O'Neill and all the assistant coaches as they huddled in the darkened basement with a mid-century film projector watching game films and offering corrections and praise. Eunice would swoop up and down the stairs making sure everyone had food and clearing away dishes. Besides being an amazing cook and hostess, Eunice was an ace bridge player, bowler (2 perfect games), a founding member of St. William's Church, and a gardener. Eunice and Bob's legacy includes 7 children: Barbara (Jerry) Milton (dec.), Kevin (Peggy), Mark (Cheryl), Colin (dec.)(Paulita), Scott, Brian (Barb), Margaret (Gary) Pillsbury. 21 Grand Children: Debbie (Mark) Strouse, Jeffrey Milton, Susan (Robert) Brown, Laura Milton (Jason Riggs), Cyndi (Ryan) Willhite, Amber Milton (dec.), Angela Milton, Ashley Milton, Brooke O'Neill, Cally (Ryan) Roberts, Shaughn (Stephanie) O'Neill, Andrew (Rachel) O'Neill, Kerry (Avery) O'Neill, Carly (Mitch) Haugen, Barrie O'Neill, Alex O'Neill, Erica (Daniel) Simonavice, Elise O'Neill, Makenzie Pillsbury, Nathan Pillsbury, Theodore Pillsbury. 17 Great Grandchildren, Peyton (Caleb) Loudamy, Parker Strouse, Cody Rader, Tanner Milton, Tyler Milton, Kadin Milton, Olivia Brown, EllaMae Riggs, Eden Willhite, Titus Willhite, Dorothy Willhite, Emme O'Neill, Hugo O'Neill, Noah Haugen, Addy Haugen, Jennifer O'Neill, Jessica O'Neill, 2 Great Grand Children: Kennedy Rader, Shia Rader. Eunice was also preceded in death by Brothers and Sisters, Irene Maerz, Mildred (Robert) Dowd, Jerome Maerz, Jeanette (Maurice) Holman, Eileen (Ralph) Boudewyns, Phyllis (Thomas) Bredahl, and Eugene (Claudette) Maerz. A special thank you to staff and volunteers of St Therese of Oxbow and North Memorial Hospice where Eunice was well cared for and loved.