Obituary of Mitchell Owen O'Neill

On the morning of December 13, 2015, Mitchell Owen O'Neill of Westtown, NY, passed away unexpectedly while at home with family. Mitchell was 43 years old. Mitchell was born in Queens, NY and moved to Greenwood Lake as a young child with his family. A longtime resident of Orange County, Mitchell attended the Greenwood Lake Schools and was a 1991 graduate of John S Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, NY. Mitchell was a valued employee of Gap Warehouse in Fishkill, NY. Mitchell lead a varied and unique life. While other mere mortals would be camping in a tent with normal comforts, Mitchell and his SCA Mackay clansmen would spend up to two weeks trying to recreate living and camping conditions of the 17th century. Known as Eion O'Mally to his clanmates and his many Pennsic and Rennie friends. He was Quartermaster of MacKay's Pirates and was an Archer and Rogue. It was not unusual to see him walking around in 17th century garb with a stuffed duck in his belt. Mitchell also loved playing games of all sorts, from paintballing to Dungeons and Dragons, card games and LAN parties, it was not uncommon to see invites for game nights. Of his many varied journeys, his most important one lead him to his beloved life partner Jacqui Heard and ultimately his greatest journey as a father to Grace Ann O'Neill. Mitchell was preceded in death by his Grandparents, Martin and Elizabeth O'Neill and Thomas and Marie Houston, and his niece, Asheton Marie Bandy. He is survived by his daughter Grace Ann O'Neill; his life partner and mother of Grace, Jacqui Heard; his parents, Thomas and Marie O'Neill; his sisters and their spouses, Christine and Brian Bandy, Karen and Jason Sticco; his nieces and nephew, Callista and Rylee Bandy, Mikayla and Jacob Sticco; 12 cousins and their 26 children/grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Strong Baslie Funeral Home, 4 Oak St Greenwood Lake, on Thursday December 17th from 2-4 and 7-9. A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Rosary Church, 41 Windermere Ave, on Friday December 18th at 10am. He was a gentle soul with a heart of gold. He will forever be missed, but never forgotten. Arrangements by Strong Basile Funeral Home 845-477-8240 or www.ocfuneralhomes.com.