Rebecca "Becky" Loraine O'Connell, 56, Inverness, has gone to be at peace with the Lord on April 8, 2010. This ends her courageous third battle with breast cancer. Becky was born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL, on December 29, 1953. She graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1971. She attended St. Petersburg Junior College and the University of South Florida, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. She taught in St. Petersburg for three years before moving to Inverness where she taught at Lecanto Primary School for three years and then at Inverness Primary School for the last twenty-five years. She has touched the lives of so many in this community through her dedicated work as a teacher. Becky is a three-time "Teacher of The Year" recipient at Inverness Primary School. In 2009, she went on to win Citrus County's "Teacher of The Year". This was an amazing accomplishment considering she was going through her second battle with cancer. She is also a three-time recipient of the Bright House Teacher Award, which she won for incorporating cable in the classroom with amazing projects such as trips to swim with the manatees, career days, and a tribute to all veterans.
Outside of the classroom, she was a leader in the Naval Sea Cadets, working with youth to help prepare them to pursue their dreams in a military career. She also volunteered numerous years working as a VBS leader at the First United Methodist Church of Inverness. Her love in life was working with children in and out of the classroom. She has truly been an inspiration to all who have crossed her path.
Becky is survived by her husband of 35 years, Gary O'Connell; 2 sons, Matthew O'Connell of Inverness and Kevin O'Connell of St. Petersburg; her daughter, Sarah (Daniel) O'Connell Hoffmeier, Mobile, AL; 4 brothers, Marvin Osborne of Alabama , Robert ""Bo"" Osborne of New Port Richey, Charles Osborne of St. Petersburg and Jerry Osborne of Oregon; her sister, Linda Osborne of St. Petersburg; 5 grandchildren, Ethan, Ryan, Hunter, Tyler and Jacob. She was preceded in death by a sister, Jonelle.
Becky's life will be celebrated on Monday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Inverness with Rev. Kip Younger officiating. Burial will follow in Hills of Rest Cemetery, Floral City. The family will receive friends at the Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please respect Becky's wishes that all memorial donations be made to the Becky O'Connell Foundation, 6925 So. Aloysia Ave., Floral City, FL 34436.
Published in Citrus County Chronicle from April 9 to April 12,
Outside of the classroom, she was a leader in the Naval Sea Cadets, working with youth to help prepare them to pursue their dreams in a military career. She also volunteered numerous years working as a VBS leader at the First United Methodist Church of Inverness. Her love in life was working with children in and out of the classroom. She has truly been an inspiration to all who have crossed her path.
Becky is survived by her husband of 35 years, Gary O'Connell; 2 sons, Matthew O'Connell of Inverness and Kevin O'Connell of St. Petersburg; her daughter, Sarah (Daniel) O'Connell Hoffmeier, Mobile, AL; 4 brothers, Marvin Osborne of Alabama , Robert ""Bo"" Osborne of New Port Richey, Charles Osborne of St. Petersburg and Jerry Osborne of Oregon; her sister, Linda Osborne of St. Petersburg; 5 grandchildren, Ethan, Ryan, Hunter, Tyler and Jacob. She was preceded in death by a sister, Jonelle.
Becky's life will be celebrated on Monday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Inverness with Rev. Kip Younger officiating. Burial will follow in Hills of Rest Cemetery, Floral City. The family will receive friends at the Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please respect Becky's wishes that all memorial donations be made to the Becky O'Connell Foundation, 6925 So. Aloysia Ave., Floral City, FL 34436.
Published in Citrus County Chronicle from April 9 to April 12,
Rebecca "Becky" Loraine O'Connell, 56, Inverness, has gone to be at peace with the Lord on April 8, 2010. This ends her courageous third battle with breast cancer. Becky was born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL, on December 29, 1953. She graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1971. She attended St. Petersburg Junior College and the University of South Florida, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. She taught in St. Petersburg for three years before moving to Inverness where she taught at Lecanto Primary School for three years and then at Inverness Primary School for the last twenty-five years. She has touched the lives of so many in this community through her dedicated work as a teacher. Becky is a three-time "Teacher of The Year" recipient at Inverness Primary School. In 2009, she went on to win Citrus County's "Teacher of The Year". This was an amazing accomplishment considering she was going through her second battle with cancer. She is also a three-time recipient of the Bright House Teacher Award, which she won for incorporating cable in the classroom with amazing projects such as trips to swim with the manatees, career days, and a tribute to all veterans.
Outside of the classroom, she was a leader in the Naval Sea Cadets, working with youth to help prepare them to pursue their dreams in a military career. She also volunteered numerous years working as a VBS leader at the First United Methodist Church of Inverness. Her love in life was working with children in and out of the classroom. She has truly been an inspiration to all who have crossed her path.
Becky is survived by her husband of 35 years, Gary O'Connell; 2 sons, Matthew O'Connell of Inverness and Kevin O'Connell of St. Petersburg; her daughter, Sarah (Daniel) O'Connell Hoffmeier, Mobile, AL; 4 brothers, Marvin Osborne of Alabama , Robert ""Bo"" Osborne of New Port Richey, Charles Osborne of St. Petersburg and Jerry Osborne of Oregon; her sister, Linda Osborne of St. Petersburg; 5 grandchildren, Ethan, Ryan, Hunter, Tyler and Jacob. She was preceded in death by a sister, Jonelle.
Becky's life will be celebrated on Monday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Inverness with Rev. Kip Younger officiating. Burial will follow in Hills of Rest Cemetery, Floral City. The family will receive friends at the Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please respect Becky's wishes that all memorial donations be made to the Becky O'Connell Foundation, 6925 So. Aloysia Ave., Floral City, FL 34436.
Published in Citrus County Chronicle from April 9 to April 12,
Outside of the classroom, she was a leader in the Naval Sea Cadets, working with youth to help prepare them to pursue their dreams in a military career. She also volunteered numerous years working as a VBS leader at the First United Methodist Church of Inverness. Her love in life was working with children in and out of the classroom. She has truly been an inspiration to all who have crossed her path.
Becky is survived by her husband of 35 years, Gary O'Connell; 2 sons, Matthew O'Connell of Inverness and Kevin O'Connell of St. Petersburg; her daughter, Sarah (Daniel) O'Connell Hoffmeier, Mobile, AL; 4 brothers, Marvin Osborne of Alabama , Robert ""Bo"" Osborne of New Port Richey, Charles Osborne of St. Petersburg and Jerry Osborne of Oregon; her sister, Linda Osborne of St. Petersburg; 5 grandchildren, Ethan, Ryan, Hunter, Tyler and Jacob. She was preceded in death by a sister, Jonelle.
Becky's life will be celebrated on Monday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Inverness with Rev. Kip Younger officiating. Burial will follow in Hills of Rest Cemetery, Floral City. The family will receive friends at the Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please respect Becky's wishes that all memorial donations be made to the Becky O'Connell Foundation, 6925 So. Aloysia Ave., Floral City, FL 34436.
Published in Citrus County Chronicle from April 9 to April 12,
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