Obituary of Peter J. O'Neill, Jr.

Peter J. O'Neill, Jr., 86, of Freehold, passed away at home on Monday, January 8, 2024.  Peter was born in Brookhaven, NY and raised in Bellport, NY.  He moved to Freehold at the age of 18, married, and moved to Howell to start a family.  In 2006, he retired to the Silvermead Community.  Peter was a self-employed Carpenter for 68 years.  In retirement, he worked at the Home Depot in Howell when they opened for ten years until his re-retirement.  In re-retirement, Peter worked throughout the Silvemead Community doing lawn maintenance, a passion he had his whole life, especially at home around the house and in his garden.  A true man of faith, he was a most recently a parishioner of the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, a former parishioner of the Church of St. Veronica, where he volunteered at Bingo for many years  He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus in Jackson.  Peter bowled at Howell Lanes (where he met his wife), was skilled at the game of Bocce, and loved to play cards. 

Peter was predeceased by his brother, Joseph Hanna.  He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Anna Marie; three children, Colleen Hordichuk and her husband, Dale of Lancaster, SC, Patrick O'Neill and his wife, Megan of Freehold, Heather Benarick and her husband, Jeff of Jackson; six grandchildren, Melissa, Brian and his wife, Gabrielle, Ryan, Thomas, Brayden, and Brooke; and a sister, Elise Alloy and her husband, Phil of Long Island, NY.

A visitation will be held at the Clayton and McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524 ), Freehold Township on Friday January 12, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Relatives and friends may gather at the Funeral Home on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 9:15 AM for the procession to his 10:30 AM funeral mass at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, 43 Madison Avenue, Lakewood. Interment will follow in St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, Lakewood. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN, 38105.  For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.