O’CONNELL, Thoma‚ Kenneth “Ken”

With broken hearts we wish to announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, poppy, brother, uncle. Thomas Kenneth (Ken) O’connell. Ken was born in New Waterford, NS, on July 28, 1949, to parents Clarence O’connell and Anita (Duncan) O’connell and passed peacefully in his sleep at home on March 20, 2024. Ken was a devoted husband, father, Poppy and is survived by his wife, Rylla, Halifax; daughter, Raya Hackett (Vance), Hammonds Plains; son, Steven O’connell, Calgary; and grandsons, Greyson and Declan Hackett, Hammonds Plains. Ken is also survived by brothers, Allan (Leslie), New Waterford, John, Chatham NB, James (Sandra), Sydney; by sisters, Donna Macdonald (Bernie), Dartmouth, Anita Mccabe (Thom), Whitney Pier and Janet, New Waterford; and many nieces and nephews. Ken left Cape Breton as a young man to join the military and proudly served twenty-nine years serving in various bases in Canada, two tours to Germany, two tours in Cyprus and one in Alert. Ken was a real family man with a great sense of humour and was loved and respected by all his family and friends. Ken met his wife in Oromocto and they married in June of 1974 and started his family prior to his second posting to Germany in 1978. Ken met and maintained close friendships with military buddies over the years and treasured them all. Ken treasured his children and was very proud of who they became as adults. He also treasured his grandsons and was a proud Poppy at their hockey games! He enjoyed golfing at Lost Creek and in PEI and was a diehard Moosehead fan since 1993. During his retirement Ken loved to travel and enjoyed many cruises and trips south in the winter with friends and family. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday March 27, at 2 p.m. in J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Canadian Cancer society.