of Niagara Falls, NY, passed away on Monday, May 7, 2018, in Northgate Health Care Facility, Wheatfield, NY. He was born in Niagara Falls, NY, on April 19, 1944, the son of the late Patrick E. and Mary Agnes [Riordan] O’Donnell. Bill graduated from St. Mary’s, Bishop Duffy and Niagara University.
He along with his new wife Alicia, were trained to be “VISTA” volunteers in a government program and served on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. After returning from Montana, he became a Respiratory Therapist at Mercy Hospital, Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital and Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center before retiring in 1999.
He retired early to travel with his wife and together they enjoyed visiting family in Cape Cod and Costa Rica and traveled to philosophy conferences of the American Maritain Association, a Catholic philosophical society of which they were members. He also ran for State Assembly in 1970. Bill played the piano “by ear” and sat down to play his original music wherever he saw a piano.
He played the piano daily at home and said when it sounded good to him-” that the angels were helping”. Bill also volunteered as an organist at his parish, St. Mary’s Church. Bill’s faith and family mattered most to him.
He delighted in his children and grandchildren and all of their accomplishments. He said that “Every moment is a gift from God” and “the most important thing is to love God and each other and to know that God loves us”. Bill is survived by his wife of 50 years Alicia [Gaston] O’Donnell, his children Joseph, Patrick (Ariadna), Michael (Jessica) O’Donnell, Mary Grace (Chris Leavens) Ohrum and Thomas (Jacqueline Judware) O’Donnell, his grandchildren Aurora Lambert, Miranda and Samuel O’Donnell, Kayla Lambert, Talia and Veronka Leavens and Danny Brierley and soon Cecelia Leavens and was the brother of Brian (Janice), Patrick (Marilyn) and Cornelius (Anne) O’Donnell, Florence (Kevin) Brown, Christine (late Fred) Aydelotte, brother in law of Arthur Paine.
He is also survived by many other beloved family and friends, including the Bracero family. Bill was the brother of the late Mary Catherine Paine. His family will be present on Friday from 4-8 PM at the RHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 1124 Ontario Avenue, NIAGARA FALLS, NY, where funeral services will be held on Saturday at 9:15 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 259 Fourth Street, Niagara Falls, NY, with the Rev.
Jacek Mazur officiating. Interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston, NY.
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