Obituary: Shelagh Heffernan O'Neill, 87, of West Hartford

From Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home

Shelagh Heffernan O'Neill, 87, of West Hartford, CT and Quonochontaug, R.I. died January 3, 2018, at Dempsey Hospital after a brief illness. Mrs. O'Neill was the daughter of Thomas J. Heffernan and Emily V. Gibney and born in New York on August 9, 1930. She attended schools in Manhattan and graduated from Dominican Academy. She attended Manhattanville College for two years, leaving to marry Norris L. ("Nick") O'Neill. She later returned to college at St. Joseph (now the University of St. Joseph) in West Hartford, Connecticut where she and her husband had settled in the early 50s.

Following years of civic engagement and political involvement, Mrs. O'Neill entered UCONN Law School and graduated in 1976. She went from a local law firm to co-founding Leete, O'Neill & Kosto, the first firm in CT of all women lawyers. She practiced there until her retirement in 1995.

Mrs. O'Neill is survived by her daughter Megan J. O'Neill of West Hartford; her three granddaughters Chessy P. Brady (Peter Sokol-Hessner) of Denver, Margot H. Brady of East Hartford, Cordelia E. Brady of West Hartford; and two newborn great-grandchildren, Astrid Lydia Sokol-Brady and Torin Norris Sokol-Brady; and her sister Emily H. Leonard of West Hartford, CT. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Norris L. O'Neill (1926-2006) and her son Gunnar M. O'Neill (1968-1995).

Shelagh was always grateful to Harc for the care of the family and her grand-daughter Margot, over these last 30 years. She requested that memorial contributions be made to Harc, Inc., 900 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT 06105.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home here.