Pauline A. O'Neill

Waltham – Pauline A. O'Neill, of Waltham, died on Saturday, January 13, 2018 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital. She was 66.

Pauline was born in Waltham on February 3, 1951, the daughter of the late Thomas E. O'Neill and Mary C. (Brown) (O'Neill) Iseman. After graduating from Waltham High School in 1970 she attended Robert and Richard Beauty Academy and later the Massachusetts School of Barbering. She began working as a professional hairdresser in an era when women needed a barber's license to cut men's hair. Until her retirement as a hairdresser she worked for over 20 years at Kevin Max Hair Design in Auburndale. She then went to work for The Labb Corporation, working with special needs students in the Lexington school system . . . she loved her kids and her kids loved 'Miss O".

Pauline helped many people, some in good situations and many in bad situations, with her experience, knowledge and compassion. She enjoyed a fun and active retirement as a woman about town until illness forced her to slow down.

She is survived by her brother and sister, Richard T. 'Dick' O'Neill of Fort Myers, Florida and Mary Catherine Collura (John) of South Hadley; her step-mother, Jerri Burri-O'Neill of Lexington; her cousin, Robbie Brown (Tara) of Stow; her step-siblings, Stephen Burri (Kathy) of Grafton, Martha Festa (Mike) of Medfield, Melinda Burri (Ken Wright) of Carlisle and Lisa Hemmert (Mark) of Seattle, Washington and many nieces and nephews.

Pauline was also a sister of the late CPL Thomas E. O'Neill, Jr., USMC.

Family and friends will honor and remember Pauline's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, January 17th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 8 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Pauline's eulogy by her brother Dick:

Pauline was a lot of things to a lot of people. She was a devoted sister, a loving godmother, aunt, and cousin and she was the consummate friend, mentor, and confidant. Pauline helped many "gain control of their lives" and become much happier, productive people.

She was a giver not a taker which may resonate with many of you and may be a reason you are here today. To some with small challenges she was the Good
Samaritan and to others she was their Mother Teresa. She found great personal value in her family. During 7 decades and through 5 generations the O'Neills, Browns and Burris played a very very important part in her life from Hampton Beach to Assateague Island.

Pauline and I were very close growing up for a few reasons. One was because we were Irish twins, born 11 months apart in 1951. Another reason is that we both spent 2 years in first grade - I for good reasons and she (as she claimed?) by choice because she did not want to leave her younger brother behind. In 8th grade we lost our brother Tommy which brought us all closer together and then I learned in 9th grade I had a new identity when I became known as Pauline O'Neill's brother which frankly wasn't a bad thing for me because Pauline was insanely popular. Pauline and I also had a knack (maybe it was genetic?) for picking the same friends like Bobby Burke which meant that we also hung out together in high school. Pauline was personable and very funny. Pauline leaves a legacy of love, kindness, compassion, and understanding and she connected with and impacted a lot of people. She will be missed by all of us and will not be forgotten.