DeLores "Dee" O'Connell

MORTON –DeLores A. “Dee” O’Connell, 94, of Morton, passed away on Friday, July 15, 2022, at Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton.

Dee was born on July 14, 1928, in Wenona, Ill., to William and Julia (Pleshe) Zulz. She married Thomas O’Connell on November 27, 1952, in Wenona, Ill. He preceded her in death on February 25, 2019. They were married for 66 years.

Surviving are four children, Greg (Judy) O’Connell of North Fort Myers, Fla., Sue (Paul) Mroz of Peoria, Julie O’Connell Bishop of Jupiter, Fla., and Michael (Wiesia Mancewicz) O’Connell of Chicago; three grandchildren, Christina (Brian) Burmester of Renton, Wash., Brittany (Brian) Barnett of Indianapolis, Ind., and Zachary Bishop of Boca Raton, Fla.; five great-grandchildren, Blake, Kate and Connor Barnett and Andi and Austin Burmester; and one sister, Charlotte Long of Wenona.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, William Zulz of Wenona.

Dee attended schools in Wenona. In high school, she was called out many times to ring the fire alarm or work the phone switchboard. After high school, she worked for State Farm in Bloomington, until her wedding.

Family was the center of Dee’s life. Raising her four children and putting them through college were her proudest achievements. As a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she gave her love and support in countless ways. She made creative cakes for birthdays and other celebrations, played the harmonica for birthdays and constantly sent care packages, cards, letters and newspaper clippings. She had a great sense of humor and loved spending time with family, cooking, bowling, going to garage sales, reading the news and doing puzzles. She was an election judge for many years.

Dee was a long-time member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Morton, where a visitation will be held from 9 to 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, with a Mass of Christian burial following at 11 a.m., officiated by Msgr. Gerald T. Ward. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Wenona, Ill.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Illinois Cancer Care, St. Jude Runner’s Association, Sophia’s Kitchen or Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

The family would like to thank the staff at Apostolic Christian Restmor for the loving care they provided Dee.

To view the online video tribute or to leave a condolence for the family, visit www.knappjohnson.com.