Mrs. Rita Ruth Maxwell O'Connell, 82, of Frederick, died on Tuesday, May 13th, 2014 at her home. She was the wife of the late Joseph Patrick O'Connell, M.D, who died October 4, 2007. They were married June 19, 1954. Born August 1, 1931, in Philadelphia, PA, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Scott and Madeline Margaret Ringler Maxwell. Mrs. O'Connell graduated from Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls in 1949. She trained and worked in the medical field as a laboratory technician where she met her future husband. Following their marriage, she devoted her life to her husband and raising their children. She traveled extensively and loved to study history. Her travels included several trips to Saudi Arabia with Dr. O'Connell, where he served as a pathologist. She was truly devoted to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of Saint John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Frederick, and was a longtime member and previously served as president of the Saint John's Cemetery, Inc. She is survived by eight children, the Honorable Theresa M. Adams and husband Michael, Kateri DeLaney, Jeanne M. O'Connell, M.D. and husband Michael Blue, Margaret Comer and husband Jeffrey, all of Frederick, Mary Scott O'Connell and husband Thomas Chapman, of Bethesda, John O'Connell and partner Brian Miller, and Edward O'Connell and wife Veronica, all of Washington, DC, Madeline O'Connell Hartling and husband Jeffrey Hartling of Jersey City, N.J., a daughter-in-law, Jill O'Connell and husband Patrick Muldowney; 19 grandchildren, Alexis Slater, Henry Adams, Mary Diamond Adams, Eleanor Bice, D.O., Korrie DeLaney Miller, Joseph O'Connell, Kate O'Connell, Matthew Blue, Clay Comer, Roy Comer, Brent Comer, Patrick Chapman, Lt. Abigail O'Connell, J. Patrick O'Connell III, Isabelle O'Connell, Bridget O'Connell, Liam Hartling, Elsie Hartling and Yarrow Smith; and six great-grandchildren, Madeline Trainor, Aidan Trainor, Lucy Bice, Charlotte Bice, Caelan O'Connell, Evelyn O'Connell and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also remembered by many loving friends. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Joseph Patrick "Pat" O'Connell Jr., in 2001; sons-in-laws, Franklin Richard DeLaney, Louis J. Mancusco, and one brother, Thomas J. Maxwell. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 15 at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick, MD, 21701. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 16 at Saint John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 118 East Second Street, Frederick, MD, 21701. Private interment will be in Saint John's Cemetery, Frederick. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Saint John's Cemetery Endowment Fund, 112 East Second Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.keeneybasford.com.
