Friday, September 17th, 2021
Memorial Service Celebrating the Life of
John Lawrence O’Meally
(March 23, 1936 – August 24, 2021)
It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of John L. O’Meally of Easthampton, MA (Lathrop Community). He died peacefully at home on August 24th, surrounded by family and caregivers. He was 85 years old.
This webpage was created to share information about his memorial service. New info will be posted as soon as it’s available, so check back often.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Friday September 17th at 11am, First Churches of Northampton (129 Main Street, Northampton MA 01060). The service is open to all who wish to attend (wear a mask, please) and will also be livestreamed for those who cannot be there in person (see below).
LIVESTREAM
The memorial service will also be livestreamed, so those who cannot attend in person can still take part. CLICK HERE FOR THE MEMORIAL LIVESTREAM
SHARE WITH US! (Send to annrasmussen44@yahoo.com)
- We will be creating a slideshow that will display just prior to the start of the service (in-person and via livestream). Please share any favorite photos of John, so they can be added in.
- Those who plan to attend virtually and wish to speak during the service may prepare and email a video in advance so that it can be incorporated into the service.
- Those who plan to attend in-person and wish to speak at the service are asked to contact Ann for arrangements.
TRAVEL
- Air travel: Fly into Bradley International Airport (BDL), Hartford CT (40 min away).
- Rail service: Amtrak stops include Union Station/Springfield MA (30 min away) & Northampton MA (10 min away)
HOTELS
Hotel Northampton (around the corner from the memorial service)
Fairfield Inn & Suites (10 min walk to memorial service)
Howard Johnson (Hadley MA, 15 min drive to memorial service)
Hotel Suites & Spa (Holyoke MA, 10 min drive to memorial service)
LOCAL AREA INFO
https://northamptonma.gov/2104/Covid-19-Information
COVID HEALTH & SAFETY
First Churches just re-opened for in-person worship this summer. Those attending the memorial service are asked to kindly comply with the following COVID-19 policies:
- Masks must be worn inside the church building
- Please maintain social distancing whenever possible (while standing, or seated in the sanctuary)
- Please note that there is no choir or congregational singing at this time
- Common / public areas within the facility are sanitized on a consistent basis
- Hand sanitizer & disposable masks will be available at both the Main St. & Center St. entrances
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS
Please consider a gift of support to https://www.cooleydickinson.org/programs…/vna-hospice/, an organization that helped both Dorothy & Larry transition with comfort & dignity
CONTACT
- Please contact Ann if you have any questions: annrasmussen44@yahoo.com or via cell at 413-427-3734
- Please note that we dropped our landline last year: 413-527-6931 is no longer our number
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JOHN’S LIFE HISTORY
John O’Meally’s remarkable life journey took him from humble beginnings in Harlem, NYC. It was there that he met and married his beloved wife of 56 years, the late Dorothy M. Clare O’Meally. John served over 23 years in the United States Navy – a career marked by merit and distinction which included over 10 years of service on conventional and nuclear submarines. John and Dorothy settled in Teaneck, NJ where, after retiring from the Navy, John worked for Factory Mutual Engineering until 1989. In retirement, John actively pursued a bevy of interests: his fascination with aviation led to him obtain a commercial pilot’s license. He also took up sailing and power boating, and he and Dorothy enjoyed motorhome adventures together across the country. John and Dorothy moved to Easthampton MA in January of 2015. While slowed by Dorothy’s illness and eventual passing later that year, John was buoyed by his grandchildren and by the warm welcome and community he found at Lathrop, and here at First Churches. Donna & her family thank you all for opening your hearts to John & Dorothy during their time in Massachusetts, and feel blessed that they were the beneficiary of so much love, and the wonderful “extravagant welcome” this congregation is known for. John is survived by his daughter (Donna O’Meally), his son (John O’Meally, II), two grandchildren (Marcus O’Meally, Maja O’Meally), daughter in-law (Ann Rasmussen), and a host of relatives and close family friends who looked to him as the family patriarch.