Nora Julia Bellview O'Neill

April 6, 1929 – April 26, 2025

Nora O'Neill passed away peacefully on April 26, 2025, in Burlington, Vermont, at the age of 96. She was surrounded by the love and comfort of her family and friends in her final days.

Born on April 6, 1929, Nora was fiercely independent and lived life entirely on her own terms — with humor, warmth, and an unwavering love for her family and friends. She was a woman who spoke her mind, stood tall for what she believed in, and made an unforgettable impression on everyone she met.

Nora married Eugene Paul O'Neill in 1965, and together they shared 53 happy years of marriage until his death in 2019. Their love was built on devotion, faith, and shared strength — and Nora carried those same qualities into every relationship and endeavor that followed.

In 1970, Nora became an Avon sales representative in Essex Junction, a role she truly enjoyed for more than 50 years. She served over 1,000 customers — many of whom became lifelong friends. Nora knew every driveway in town and believed that a little lipstick and a good conversation could brighten anyone's day. She loved getting to know people, swapping stories at the doorstep, and sharing a bit of beauty and connection wherever she went.

She had a deep and joyful love of music, growing up in the big band era when every song invited you to dance. As a young girl, Nora could often be found at the piano, gently tapping out a tune or listening to her treasured record collection. In later years, it was the crackle of the radio that filled her home, and she'd dance through the kitchen to her favorite songs, with banana bread baking in the oven. Her little tins of quick breads — banana, zucchini, cranberry, rhubarb, even gumdrop — seemed endless, and the comforting smell of something fresh from the oven became part of what made her house a home.

Her hands were always busy with something — embroidering a tablecloth, knitting a scarf, or scribbling a letter to a faraway friend. Over the years, those letters blossomed into a network of hundreds of pen pals from all corners of the country and beyond, each one connected to her by her warmth, humor, and handwritten words.

She loved her garden with the same energy, planting rows of flowers and vegetables that grew wild and happy under her care. Summer days often ended with her filling the freezer with beans and squash, and the pantry with jars of jams and preserves, small everyday miracles that lasted long after the season passed.

Nora also had a gift for finding beauty in unexpected places. She loved to thrift and collect — recipes, newspaper clippings, postcards from across the country, and dishes of every size and story. Her cupboards overflowed, not just with china and crystal, but with memories of every treasure she found and every meal or gathering it helped to shape. In everything she did, Nora found joy, made connections, and built a life that was colorful, textured, and full of heart.

Nora is survived by her 3 children: Julia O'Neill, Eugene O'Neill (Susan), and Peggy Willoughby (Steve); 5 grandchildren Timothy Dumas (Christine), Jessica Buehman, R.J. O'Neill (Tiffaney), Tyler O'Neill (Libberty), and Casey O'Neill; and 7 great-grandchildren: Marek Smith, Edward Bessette Jr., Lucas Buehman, Conor O'Neill, and Cormac, Corva, and Eirwynn Dumas; and many extended family members who will carry her memory forward with laughter and love.

Nora also leaves behind a wide circle of dear friends — many lifelong and many newly found — whose visits, conversations, and steady presence filled her life with joy. She treasured each friendship and carried them all close to her heart.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, her parents Nelson and Myrtle Bellview, her grandson Colin O'Neill, and many other cherished family members, who no doubt welcomed her home with open arms and maybe a little mischief.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the many compassionate caregivers from Bayada who helped care for Nora in her final years, including Korie, Marissa, Monique, Sophie, Tabitha, and Hareg. Their kindness, warmth, and presence brought comfort not just to Nora, but to all who loved her.

Nora lived her life with music in her heart, purpose in her hands, and warmth in everything she did. Those who knew her will remember her laughter, her never ending letters and phone calls, her truly astonishing collection of dishes, and the countless ways she made the world brighter.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 15, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Corbin and Palmer in Essex Junction. A service will be held on Friday, May 16, at 2 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Essex Junction, followed by burial at Holy Family Cemetery and a reception afterward at the Holy Family Parish Center. The family invites loved ones to gather, share stories, and honor Nora's remarkable journey — with a toast, a laugh, and perhaps a little music.