O'Keefe, Angela (Begley)
Angela (Begley) O'Keefe, loving and devoted wife of the late John (Jack) O'Keefe, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died Tuesday, September 7, 2021. Born to the late Jeremiah and Johanna Garvey Begley, in
Ballinknockane, Dingle, County Kerry Ireland, she followed her brothers and sisters to the United States carrying with her the promise of a better future. She met her husband Jack at the Irish American Home club shortly thereafter and they raised seven children beginning in Hartford and moving to Wethersfield. With indomitable strength and good humor, she watched Jack enter and graduate Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Connecticut with Bachelor's and Master's degrees. For a year, she provided a home for her niece and two nephews whose young mother had died of cancer. She was an honorary life member of the Irish American Home Society, having worked tirelessly for their cultural events. She made lifelong friends during that time who provided great support in difficult times. Following Jack's early death, and still raising the younger children, she learned about banking and the stock market, interest and dividends, protecting her small income for the next forty years and repeating her mantra “Thank God I educated my children.”
Angela welcomed the husbands and wives of her children, gathering them into her small kitchen with
the biggest of hearts. As Grammy O, she helped raise the next generation providing daycare, night-care, and some vacation care so that her sons and daughters could pursue their own successes. Her most difficult burden was the loss of her two sons, Kevin and Dennis, who were fathers to young children. But despite all the hard work and sorrow, she was always the first to provide laughter and the unwavering belief that tomorrow would bring a brighter day.
Angela leaves us to join Jack and her sons, Kevin and
Dennis, and her 13 siblings. She also leaves to dwell in her great spirit, her children and their spouses, Ann Marie Mulready (Stephen), Kathleen Puglisi, (Sebastian), Maureen Paquette (David), John (Eileen), and Brendan (Annie). She leaves daughters-in-law, Nancy O'Keefe of Florida, and Patty O'Keefe of Deep River. She also leaves her beloved grandchildren, Elizabeth Frietas (Bobby), Stephen Puglisi (Lauren), Kathleen Mulready (Danny Kirkwood), Patrick Mulready
(Alyson Hannigan), Maribeth Mulready (Jon Koehn), Jaclyn Sharron (Michael), Jason Paquette (Michelle), Laura Senecal (Nick), Olivia Spada (Kevin), Brendan O'Keefe, (Kelly Horila), Abigail O'Keefe, Matthew O'Keefe, Ryan O'Keefe, and Molly O'Keefe as well as her 16 great-grandchildren who gave her great delight in person and on FaceTime—Jack, Kate, and Colin Freitas; Anabel, Violet, and Sam Puglisi; Clara and Evie Kirkwood; Christopher and Hannah Paquette; Elizabeth, Jack and Caroline Senecal; Blake Hannigan Mulready; James and Nora Koehn.
On behalf of Angela and her family her final wish would be for you to protect your family and friends and get vaccinated. Safe Home—We love you.
A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Angela's life will be held at St. Elizabeth Seton Church of St. Josephine Bahkita Parish, 280 Brook Street Rocky Hill on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 10:00 am. Family and friends should go directly to the church which requires masks. The Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Wethersfield, has care of the arrangements. For more information, or to
extend condolences, please visit FarleySullivan.com.