Obituary of Sadie "Sally" O'Connell

Sadie Sally (Haddad) O’ Connell, 81, of Peabody died Sunday at the Salem Hospital after a brief illness. She was the wife of Daniel T. O’ Connell with whom she shared 20 years of marriage. Born in Lebanon, she was the daughter of the late George Haddad, an attache with the American Consul in Damascus, Syria , and Rose (Stephan) Haddad, she emigrated to Salem Ma.at the age of 6 ½ and attended Salem Schools and was a graduate of Salem High School in 1939. While in Lebanon, she and her mother and her two brothers were Victims of an onslaught by extremist rebels on the train they were passengers on and out Of 400 people on the train, she was one of 35 people that were rescued. Shortly after this, her father returned with her to Salem. During WW 11, she worked at the General Electric Co., Lynn in the Aircraft division Where she was trained to do a variety of Men’ s positions and was also a tester on aircraft generators. She worked on the I.U.E. union paper and continued working in the office until her retirement in 1970. She was an active communicant of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Salem and was a member of the parish council and sang in the choir. She was the founder of the Sunshine Group visiting the infirmed of the church throughout the year and was recently awarded a commendation from the Orthodox Church for her tireless efforts. She was totally devoted to her family. Surviving her besides her husband are 5 daughters and 4 Sons-in-law, Elaine and Joseph Donoghue of Baltimore, Md., Judy & Christopher Schenk of Wheat Ridge ,Co., Suzanne And Eric Kenny of Beverly, Ma., Carlene Tarasuk of Kingston, N.H. and Sheila and Richard Crotts of Danvers, Ma. 10 grandchildren, Tara Mac Farland of Littleton, Co., Liam, Christopher and Adrian Schenk of Wheat Ridge,Co.,Rachael, Matthew & Jonathan Kenney of Beverly, Philip, Katrina and Peter Crotts of Danvers; a sister-in-law, Ann Haddad of Beverly, and 5ive nieces. She was the sister of the late Louis and Nicholas Haddad and the sister-in-law of the late John, Henry and Mary O’ Connell. Her funeral will be held on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 12 Chestnut St., Peabody Facility followed by Services in St. Nicholas Church, 64 Forrester St.,Salem at 10:00 a.m. Burial in Greenlawn Cemetery,Salem.Visiting hours on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9 P.M Relatives and friends kindly invited. Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Nicholas Church 64 Forrester St., Salem,Ma.01970 in her memory.