Kevin O’Connell
elevated bxdaO September 8, 1957 – May 26, 2022
elevated bxdaO Kevin Charles O’Connell
elevated bxdaO September 8, 1957 – May 26, 2022
elevated bxdaO With heavy hearts we announce the sudden passing of Kevin O’Connell ‒ peacefully at home on the morning of May 26, 2022.
elevated bxdaO Beloved husband of Colette O’Connell (nee Morrison) for 39 years. Devoted and admired Dad to Matthew (Jacqueline), Siobhan (Patrick) and Peter (Ilana). Loving brother to Cathy (Ron), Gary (Gillian), Brian (Kathleen), and Ann (late husband James). Son of the late Charlie and Marion (nee MacDonald) O’Connell. Son-in-law to Veronica and the late Jack Morrison. Brother-in-law to Angela (Ed), Paul (Maureen), Tish (Fred), Lisa (Paul), and predeceased by Marie (Tom). Kevin will be greatly missed by his many nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends.
elevated bxdaO Kevin was born in Oshawa, Ontario, on September 8, 1957. An avid and life-long learner, Kevin was often found absorbed reading the newspaper, even at a young age. He went on to complete his undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Western University, where he met his future wife and love, Colette. He continued his studies, achieving a Master’s Degree in Telecommunications Management from Syracuse University.
elevated bxdaO Kevin frequently travelled while working in the hotel industry before changing careers. For the past 17 years, he worked as a Business and Math teacher with DPCDSB at St. Francis Xavier Secondary School. Kevin was a committed educator who strived to inspire a love of learning in his students.
elevated bxdaO Though he had many accomplishments, his greatest joy in life was time spent with family and friends. He especially cherished moments during summer vacation, around the dinner table, campfire, and on the golf course.
elevated bxdaO An athlete, coach and sports fan, Kevin enjoyed cheering on the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Blue Jays, and taking notes from the golf greats.
elevated bxdaO In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be appreciated by the family.
elevated bxdaO Visitation
Thursday, June 2, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Catholic Cremation Services Chapel
6933 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario
elevated bxdaO Funeral Mass
Friday, June 3, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.
St. John of the Cross Parish
6890 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario
elevated bxdaO Please CLICK HERE to watch a livestream of the Funeral Mass beginning at 10:30 a.m.
elevated bxdaO
Inurnment
Assumption Catholic Cemetery ~ Section 6
6933 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario
elevated bxdaO
Our sympathies for your great loss. We will never forget all the memorable moments we shared together.Laughing ,drinking, playing baseball in Mississauga and Montreal and just having fun. The picture that always enters my mind is Kevin in his Odd Couples uniform, standing watching us play with his arms crossed.Kevin was a quiet, gentle and lovable man.Kevin will always stay in our hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.🙏💔😢
Love Don and Lorraine
Our sincere condolences to Collette and families.
Our deepest sympathy.
Love
Bill Tripp and Marilyn Barr
A beautiful tribute to Uncle Kevin. I’ll miss seeing him & chatting about family and the Jays. Love to you all.
I am so saddened to hear of Mr. O’Connell’s passing. He was my business teacher when I was a student at FX 4 years ago. I am so grateful to have learned so much from him – he has had such a profound impact on my academic career. I’m glad I got the chance to see him a few weeks ago when I visited the school. My heart aches for his family. I wish nothing but love and healing to you all. May he Rest In Peace, and may God bless.
He was my business teacher when I was in high school and was a very sweet man. Truly cared about his students and I’m very saddened by his sudden passing. Rest in peace Mr. O’Connell.
Siobhan, so sorry for your loss. Please accept my deepest sympathies to you and your family.
My deepest condolences to the entire family. I worked w/ Kevin for many years @ SFX; always willing to work w/ students especially the ones who needed more support. Gone way too soon…RIP Kevin
So sad to hear of the sudden passing of your brother, such an incredibly sad time and so very young. Prayers for your family.
The Harris family!
Dear Family;
I was a colleague of Kevin’s at St. FX. I was shocked to hear the news of his passing – and my heart goes out to the family. Know that your husband/dad was greatly admired & loved by his students, and well respected by his peers.
May God’s blanket of peace & comfort cover you all during this most difficult time.
God bless
Kathleen Thompson
(retired Xavier teacher)
Sending our heart felt condolences to the entire family…
Colette and family
My deepest condolences for the loss of such an important person in your lives.
May you find great comfort in all the memories and happy times you have shared together.
Will be thinking and sending you my thoughts and prayers as you embark on these days that lay ahead.💕💕
Kind love
Candace
Mr O’Connell was a teacher liaison to our DECA troupe back when I helped lead it in high school. To the unsuspecting eye, he was a hardass, but the moment you got to know him his sense of humour, love of education, and passion for giving opportunities to students was obvious. Many a funny conversation passed with O’Connell and some friends of mine after school, during DECA planning, and provincial events. Super sad to hear this news and I know this sentiment is shared by countless students from my year (and other years) on the DECA Xavier team. Thanks Mr O’Connell for your time and mentorship – it won’t be forgotten!
Sending heartfelt condolences to the entire family….
So saddened by this news. Love and hugs from Heather and Doug Griffith
Cherishing my last hug goodbye at the wonderful wedding BBQ.
My heart aches for you all through this very sad time.
Love & Prayers
I was so sorry to learn of Kevin’s passing. My sincerest condolences to the O’Connell family.
The Heath family
MNBA
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
Gone from our sight but never forgotten from our hearts.
Always remember big smiles and laughter.
Rest in peace. Kevin
Dear Ilana and Pete, I am so sorry for your loss. My sincere condolences to you and your family. Please know that you and your family are in my prayers and my thoughts.
Peter, Ilana and family,
Wishing you all the comfort of each other’s company to share memories of your Dad and to ease the pain of such a difficult time.
Deepest condolences,
Amita & Zaheer
Peter, Ilana, and family;
We were so sorry to hear of your Father’s passing. Wishing you strength and comfort as you navigate these difficult times.
Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
With love,
Jen, Kyle, & Nathan Swanton
Sending my deepest condolences to the O’Connell family. Mr. O’Connell, or as my friends and I called him the “Knowledgeable One” was an incredible educator, community leader and mentor. We first met during our DECA days, where we bonded over our love for current events and politics. Then, when my grade 12 electives filled up, he opened a seat in his international business class where we had spirited debates and bantered back and forth. In this class I also learned about his incredible ability, to return a rubric with 4 pages of comments, when the assignment handed in was only 2 pages long. When I left FX, Mr. O’Connell and I kept in touch and he was always excited to discuss my goals of becoming a physician. I was saddened to hear of his passing on the eve of my med school graduation, as I would have loved to visit and talk to him about my future plans and hear about his travel and golf plans for the summer. He was a caring, funny, and brilliant educator. I will miss him dearly, and hope we are able to find a way to honour his legacy at FX in coming months.
Gary and Family , so sorry to hear of the premature loss of your brother – I remember him as a lively fun young person, and good athlete.
Condolences to all of your family – Frank Foley, and Terese Ashton
Deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Kevin . Growing up , KC was always such a fun loving, good natured guy with an infectious smile and cheerful laugh. Condolences to all of the family.
Kevin was a respected colleague of mine at STFX
We worked together to support many students in reaching their goals and planning their future endeavours. He took a sincere interest in helping students in need. He was a wonderful person, well respected by our community. His sense of humour and spirit for fun and new adventures was so appreciated by all. My sincerest condolences to you Collette and your family. Your wonderful husband/dad was taken far too soon. May he Rest In Peace
Dearest ilana and Pete,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your father. No words can ease the pain of such a great loss, but I hope that you and your family can find comfort and strength in leaning on eachother during this difficult time. He sounded like a truly amazing person.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Lots of love,
Adam, Steph and Gilbert
It was a privilege to be able to watch your father’s reaction while Ilana and Pete shared their vows last month. It was very clear how much he loved you both and how proud he was of you. Our thoughts are with your whole family during this difficult time. Sending all my strength.
Love Melissa and Andrew
We were saddened to learn of Kevin’s passing. Our sincerest condolences to your family.
to the entire O’Connell family my heart is saddened by the loss of Kevin. He was like a brother to me growing up as I spent a lot of summers there. Our days were spent playing sports, either indoors or outdoors. We would make up our own Olympics. A lot of road hockey, fort building, time spent at the cottage, great summers, family reunions and Christmases.
We would dread Saturday mornings when Chick would make us pick weeds.
The coop was a great place to spend your childhood.
Our sincerest condolences to your family and Colette
I will really miss his sense of humour, he loved to laugh.
I will miss you dearly, like a brother
I am saddened to learn of Kevin’s passing. My sincerest condolences to your family.
Will Miss seeing him at family reunions
Dear Ilana, Pete and family,
We are so very sorry for your loss. We are thinking of you and continue to hold you in our prayers. We hope that you will find comfort in the memories you shared and in the love and support of family and friends during this difficult time.
Our sincerest condolences again. With lots of love,
Lishan, Anthony and Mason