Rev. John B. O'Connell 90 entered into the eternal peace of God's infinite mercy on Saturday September 17th, 2005 at St. Joseph's Residence in Enfield. He was born in Derby CT on September 9, 1915 and was the son of the late John and Bertha (Bradshaw) O'Connell. He was a graduate of St. Mary's Parochial School 1929 and Derby High School class of 1933. Fr. John attended St. Thomas Seminary from 1933 to 1935 and studied philosophy and theology for six years at Saint Sulpice Seminary at Issy / Paris France. His summers in Europe were used to study languages in Italy and Germany. He escaped Paris two weeks before its fall to the Nazis. He was ordained August 10, 1940 at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph by Hartford Bishop Henry J. O'Brien. On September 1, 1940, Father O'Connell received his first assignment as a weekend chaplain at the Veterans Home and Hospital in Rocky Hill. Then on October 19, 1940 he was named assistant at Saint Francis Parish in New Haven. From there he was assigned in September 1942 as assistant at Sacred Heart Parish in Taftville, and then on August 31, 1946 as assistant at Saint John Evangelist Parish in Watertown. On September 17, 1949, he was named assistant at St. Mary Parish in New Britain, where he served until 1953. On June 13, 1953, he began serving as assistant at Saint Aedan Parish in New Haven. Father O'Connell came to Enfield in 1961 to found St. Martha Church and School. Prior to the completion of building Saint Martha Church, Father O'Connell who was a member of the Washinton Irving Council # 50 Knights of Columbus used the Knights of Columbus Hall for Sunday Mass.He was especially proud of St. Martha School which he opened on September 5, 1963. It was while visiting new parishioners that Father O'Connell noticed that most of the families had young children. This led him to devote most of his time and attention to the operation of what became Enfield's fourth Catholic elementary school. He served as Pastor of St. Martha until his retirement January 3, 2002.He is survived by a sister Loretta C. Andrews of Naples Florida, and three nephews John Andrews, Howard K. Andrews and David Andrews Calling Hours will be on Tuesday from 3 to 7 PM at Saint Martha Church 214 Brainard Rd. Enfield with a Parish Mass at 7:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated by the Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell Archbishop of Hartford will be held on Wednesday at 11:00AM in St. Martha Church. Burial will be in Mt.Saint Benedict Cemetery Bloomfield .Memorials may be made to St. Martha School 214 Brainard Rd Enfield CT 06082 BROWNE MEMORIAL CHAPELS 43 SHAKER RD. ENFIELD CT IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.