Eleanor D. O’Connell of Holmdel, NJ died at her home on Saturday July 14, 2018.

Eleanor was born to Robert and Jean (Munro) Watson in Kirkintilloch, Scotland on December 8th, 1943. She immigrated to the United States in 1956 with her family, settling in Kearny, NJ. Eleanor graduated from Kearny High School in 1961 and immediately went to work at Mutual Benefit Insurance Company in Newark, NJ at the age of 17. While working, she attended school at night receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in 1967.

Eleanor taught 7th and 8th grade for the Middletown Township Board of Education at Thorne Middle School from 1979 until retiring in 2005. She was a member of the Middletown Township Education Association. While working full-time she earned a Master of Arts degree from Georgian Court College in 1981.

Eleanor was a beloved teacher, friend, daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. Everyone who knew Eleanor will remember her beautiful smile, her spirit and how completely she gave of herself to those she loved.

Eleanor was pre-deceased by her son, Matthew S. O’Connell on Jan. 7th, 2013. Mrs. O’Connell is survived by her husband of 52 years, Stephen O’Connell; her son and daughter-in-law, David O’Connell and Alexis Adorno of Ardmore, PA; her three grandchildren Liam, Kate and Eiley O’Connell; her sister and brother-in-law Sheila and George Amrich of Hackettstown, NJ and her nephew and his wife Robert Amrich and Meredith Meisenheimer of Haddonfield, NJ.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Saturday, July 21st from 5 pm until the Words of Remembrance Service begins at 6:30 pm, at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel, NJ. To share a favorite memory of Eleanor or to send a message of condolence please visit her page of tributes at www.holmdelfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Eleanor’s name to The Matthew O’Connell (L’98) Memorial Scholarship at Georgetown University Law Center, 600 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001.