Patrick Joseph O’Connell, 81, of Leesburg FL, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2022. Patrick was born in County Kerry, Ireland to his loving parents; Daniel and Delia (Griffin) O’Connell.
Patrick grew up working with his family on their dairy farm in Ireland. He was known to be a real go-getter and very hardworking. Patrick went to school at the Royal Academy in London, he was an actor and starred in commercials even appearing in some in the U.S.. While living in England, Patrick worked as a stockbroker and owned two laundromats. He also owned several greyhounds which he enjoyed racing: two of them famously known as Snobbish Sandy and Red Time.
While Patrick worked as a stockbroker, he met the love of his life, Juanita. She worked for British Airways on 5th Avenue in New York City. As he was buying an airplane ticket, he asked her to meet him for dinner in London; and the two have been together since.
Patrick and Juanita were married in 1976 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and the two had a long-distance marriage for the first year until he immigrated to the U.S. fully a year later.
Together, they lived in Los Angeles, CA, where Patrick worked for Mutual of Omaha, selling insurance, and owned a third laundromat. The couple eventually moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL to be closer to family, and shortly after they moved to Leesburg to be closer to their daughter, Erin.
Erin was the apple of Patrick’s eye. He loved his family very much and was a very dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. Patrick will be missed by many and be remembered for his intelligence and charisma. He was handsome, charming, and quite the character.
Patrick is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Juanita. He is also survived by his daughter, Erin, and her husband Jeff of St. Cloud, FL; as well as two precious grandchildren: Emilia and Everett, and his brothers: Billy, Donal, and John of Ireland, and a sister; Bridget of England.
A Funeral Mass will be held for Patrick at St. Paul’s Catholic Community Church in Leesburg.Â
