Marcella Dorothy O’Keefe

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Marcella Dorothy O’Keefe, 96, of Warwick, RI, formerly of Rutherford, NJ, passed away peacefully Monday, March 11, 2019.

Born in New York City to Thomas and Agnes (nee Dixon) Jennings, she grew up in Staten Island, where she attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School and Curtis High School. After earning an Associate of Arts degree at Finch College in New York City, she married William O’Keefe, and moved to Rutherford, where they raised a family of five children. A trip to Ireland in the early 1970s gave her an interest in Ireland and family history. She travelled to Ireland frequently to visit new-found relatives, and conducted extensive genealogical research which she shared generously with family members and other researchers. She was an active member of the Church of Saint Mary, Rutherford.

Marcella was predeceased by her husband, Williamand son, Patrick O’Keefe and her five siblings. She is survived by her loving children: Theodore O’Keefe of California, MD, Elizabeth O’Keefe of Boston, MA, Rebecca O’Keefe of Warwick, RI, & Rose Jaworsky of Tucson AZ.

After a Mass of Christian Burial at the Church of Saint Mary, Rutherford, burial took place at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor, Jeanne Jugan Residence, 964 Main Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 02860-4842. Funeral services entrusted to the Urquhart-Murphy Funeral Home, 800 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick. www.murphyfuneralhomes.org