Obituary of John Joseph O'Donnell

John J. O’Donnell Jr. ("Jack") passed away on Friday, September 1, 2023 peacefully with his family by his side.

Jack was born on July 25, 1941 in Morristown, NJ. He was 82 years old. He grew up in Whippany, NJ with his parents John O’Donnell and Louise O’Donnell ("Betty"), He is predeceased by his sister, Shirley (Trapp), and survived by his sister, Audrey (Trapp).

Jack met the love of his life Jean (Hartman) and married her on November 10, 1963 they would have celebrated 60 years of marriage this November. Jack and Jean were the owners of Ridgedale Florist and Nursery in East Hanover, NJ for over 30 years.

Jack is survived by his wife, Jean O’Donnell, and his three children, Jim O’Donnell and his wife Vikki, Cheryl Boag and her husband Mike, and Karin Nixon and her husband Dave.

If you were to ask Jack what his greatest accomplishment was, hands down he would say being a grandfather to his seven grandchildren: Courtney, Abigail, Emily, Molly, Robert, Nate, and Makayla.

To say Jack loved life is an understatement. He had many friends and anyone who met him fell in love with him!

Jack's most cherished things beside his wife, children, and grandchildren were animals, Harley Motorcycles, The Yankees, Southern Comfort, Acre Lake, Country Music, and just having a good party! He also loved his beloved Irish Setter Shawn who was the light of his life.

Jack was one of a kind and loved by all who knew him. Jack had two very special lifelong friends, Bill McKerrell & Bob Lamb. He is predeceased by his pals Barry Petersen & Richard Hartman, may they be having a cocktail in Heaven together.

Memorial Visitation for Jack will be on Friday, September 8, 2023 from 5-8pm at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main Street, Madison, NJ. A Memorial Mass for Jack will be celebrated on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 11:00am at Church of Christ the King, 16 Blue Mill Road, New Vernon, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers, Jack asked that a donation be made to: True Friends Animal Welfare Center, 16332 PA-706 Montrose, PA 18801 (www.truefriendsawc.com), or St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, 575 Woodland Ave., Madison, NJ 07940 (www.sthuberts.org).