Cleo Genevieve (O'Grady) Chappell

Cleo Genevieve (O'Grady) Chappell died Jan. 16. She was 94.

Chappell was born March 16, 1920, in Kent, Wash. She moved with her family to Gustine, Calif. at 13 years old. While in high school, she met William (Billie) Chappell and in 1938 they were wed. They had two daughters, Patricia and Marilyn. They moved to Livermore in 1951 and remained until their passing.

Chappell worked at both Wente and Cresta Blanca before accepting a position at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). While at Cresta Blanca, she met the Marino Family, their best friends and neighbors. At LLNL, Chappell worked as a secretary in the purchasing department for 20 years. She enjoyed the people she worked with and they remained friends long after her retirement.

She was proud of her Irish Catholic heritage and loved to hear about the lives of all her family and friends and welcomed them with listening ears and an open door policy. One of her mottos was "you never go anywhere with your hands hanging." She prided herself on her fabulous cooking and made sure you never left hungry from her table. She did enjoy a good Manhattan and her favorite wearing apparel was classic black and white. She was frugal with herself but generous to those she loved and cared for.

For the last three years, she was long suffering. Her in-home caregivers, Emy, Digna, Judith and Karen gave her much love and tended to her with loyalty, gentleness and kindness.

Chappell is preceded in death by her parents William and Mary O'Grady and brother Leo O'Grady. She is survived by daughters Patricia (Kenneth) Dencer of Merrill, Ore. and Marilyn (John) Hughes of Livermore, Calif.; three grandchildren Michelle (Dencer) Scully of Lakeport, Calif., Kelli (Hughes) Ness, Kevin Hughes; great-grandchildren, Ryan Cary, Carissa Steele, Max and Jake Scully, Kayla, Kelsey, Kyle and Brandon Hughes; and great great-grandchild, Carter Steele.

In lieu of flowers please send a donation to Hope Hospice, 6377 Clark Ave., Suite 100, Dublin, Calif. 94568; Alzheimers Foundation, 1060 La Avenida, Mountain View, Calif. 94043 or the Asthma Foundation. 8201 Corporate Dr., #1000, Landover, Md. 20789. A rosary was held on Wed. Jan. 22 at Callaghan Mortuary, 3833 East Ave., Livermore, Calif. Mass was held on Jan. 23 at St. Michael's Church, 458 Maple St.,Livermore, Calif.