Elaine M O'Connell

Elaine Marie (Johnson) O’Connell died peacefully on April 24, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She lived over 100 full years and created quite a legend during that century. Elaine grew up in Taunton, MA, the daughter of Edward and Alice (Carter) Johnson along with her six other siblings; William, Phyllis, Marguerite, Edward Jr., Ann, and Robert, all now deceased. She enjoyed spending summers on the shores of Somerset on their family property, which lasted well through her adult years as the family continued to grow with spouses and multiply with children. Elaine met Henry (Harry) Paul O’Connell (deceased) of North Dighton, MA prior to his enlistment in the Navy and deployment in World War II. Harry returned home in 1945, a decorated veteran, and they married the following year. Together they produced two wonderful children, Michael Paul and Patricia Anne, and they lived for many decades on Baylies Street in North Dighton, amongst other family and treasured friends. Elaine spent many of her early years working in her family’s business, Universal Plating, in Providence, RI which supported the booming jewelry industry of the time. After raising her children Elaine started work again in the retail industry, employed by many of the shops around Taunton and Raynham. She also loved to golf, bowl, ride bikes, travel and take long walks. She would often give her sage advice that to enjoy a long-life, people should keep moving and have a Manhattan every day. To her immediate family she was known as Mother, Mom, Grammee, and Gram, but for the last three decades she has been called Gigi. Elaine leaves behind her loving family members; Patricia Bradshaw, and her husband Terry, Michael O’Connell (deceased) and his wife Anne; grandchildren Loren Ettridge and her husband Greg, Lisa DeFruscio, Tara Bradshaw and her wife Christine, and Jeffrey Bradshaw and his wife Nikki. She also leaves six great grandsons: Dylan and Zachary Ettridge, Nicolas and Matthew DeFruscio, and Henry and Connor Bradshaw. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral home visiting hours are from 9-10:30 am. at the O’Keefe Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington St., Taunton MA 02780 on Tuesday, April 30th. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Nicholas of Myra Church in North Dighton at 11 am. Burial will be at St. Francis Cemetery in Taunton. Memorial donations, in her memory, may be made to the charity of your choice.

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