Shirley O'Neil

Devoted Wife, Daughter, Loving Mother, Grandmother, Sister & Aunt

Mrs. Shirley O'Neil, age 81, of Wildwood Avenue, Salamanca, NY died early Wednesday morning, January 4, 2012 at WCA Hospital, Jamestown, NY after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born on April 21, 1930 she was the daughter of the late Clyde and Hazel Freeman Crist. She was married on June 12, 1982 to her beloved Mr. Jack G. O'Neil who predeceased her on August 18, 2003.

Mrs. O'Neil attended Salamanca High School.

She was employed as a machinist at Anderson Precision, Jamestown, NY for over 10 years, retiring in 1984. She had also been employed at Allegany State Park and Palmer's Bakery in Salamanca, NY.

Mrs. O'Neil was a member of the Holy Cross Athletic Club, the Senior Center of Salamanca, the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Hughes-Skiba Post #535 and the former Women of the Moose Lodge #1002. She enjoyed bowling, bingo, going to auctions, spending time with her children, her friends at the Manor, shopping with her granddaughters and friends.

Surviving are: 2 daughters, Lana (Bob Boyett) Ghilarducci, San Rafael, CA, Julie (Dave) Hamacher, Salamanca, NY; 4 sons, Michael (Michele) Ambuske, The Villages, FL, Mark (Dawn) Ambuske, Poland, OH, Leroy (Barbara) Pond II, Salamanca, NY, Jeffrey (Beverly) Pond, Salamanca, NY; 2 step daughters, Anita (Randy) Wilkerson, Ocala, FL, Carol (Tom) Winkleman, Little Fork, MN; 14 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren; 3 sisters, Doris Conti, Jamestown, NY, Ruth Reiman, LaHabra, CA, Judy (Bob) Cricks, Murrieta, CA; 2 brothers, Clifford (Gesila) Crist, Norwalk, CA, Dennis Crist, Jamestown, NY; several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a step daughter, Donna Creeley, 2 sisters, June Arhardt, Nancy Rider, and a brother, Gary Crist, and a very close friend, Barbara Wasson.

There will be no visitation.

A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the O'Rourke & O'Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY.

Memorials may be made to the Salamanca Public Library, Homecare & Hospice, 1225 West State Street, Olean, NY 14760, the American Cancer Society, or the American Heart Association.

E-condolences can be sent to john@orourke-orourke.com, or posted to facebook.com/onofh.