Mary Elaine O'Neil Whalen

Mary Elaine O’Neil Whalen died on January 25, 2024 in Roswell, GA. She was cremated and will be laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery in Atlanta, GA. Elaine was born February 9,1939 in Lockport, NY. She attended St. Joseph’s Academy High School and Buffalo State University where she majored in elementary education. She also earned three masters in Education, Pastoral Studies and Education Administration. She married John F. Whalen on October 28, 1961. They moved to Palm Beach, FL where she was an elementary school teacher until they moved to Atlanta, GA in 1963. She taught in Atlanta until she began volunteering for the Archdiocese of Atlanta helping to start their Right to Life program. She later worked at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church as the Religious Education Coordinator for over 12 years. After that she worked at St. Pius X Catholic High School as a Theology teacher and Assistant Principal for almost 15 years before retiring in 2002 to become a fulltime Gram. Elaine loved all things Irish, visited Ireland with her father and sister and even had dual citizenship. She also loved sports, including Notre Dame and the Braves but especially any sports her children or grandchildren played. She coached all of her kids in various sports and coached basketball, softball, track and swimming while at St. Pius X High School as well. She is survived by her sister Kathleen O. Pettit and is predeceased by her parents J. Glenn O’Neil and Margaret Barnum O’Neil and her husband John F. Whalen. She is also survived by her 5 children Marc (Amy), Patrick (Stacey), Kerry Flading (Jim), Maura Baker (Brent), and Monica Chambers (Michael) and her beloved grandchildren Megan Gandolfo (Cole) and Erin Whalen, Finn and Liam Whalen, Elizabeth, Luke and Katherine Flading, Conor, Colin, Ryan, Caitlin and Quinn Davis, Trey and Jessica Baker and Joseph, Jack, Eileen and Aidan Chambers. There will be a visitation from 6pm-8pm on Thursday evening with a rosary at 7:30pm at Northside Chapel at 12050 Crabapple RD in Roswell, GA. The funeral will be Friday morning at 10:30am at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church, 11330 Woodstock RD in Roswell, GA. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Elaine O’Neil Whalen Memorial Scholarship at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School. http://tinyurl.com/487muccz

Mary Elaine O'Neil Whalen

February 9, 1939 - January 25, 2024