Finnell was born April 21, 1928, in New Haven and raised in Fairfield, daughter of William and Olga Shaughnessy. She was a Fairfield resident for most of her life. She attended Skidmore College and graduated from the Latin American Institute in New York City. She worked as a bilingual secretary. She later worked in executive assistant positions which included the Fairfield Probate Court and as executive assistant to First Selectman Jacky Durrell during her first term. She served on the Fairfield School Space Planning Committee during the late 1980s. She was a volunteer for the Diocese of Bridgeport's Parent Enrichment Program and later went on to volunteer at the Child and Family Guidance Center of Bridgeport. Most recently she volunteered reading to students at Roosevelt School in Bridgeport. She was active in community theatre.
Finnell is survived by her children, Susan Lessard (Daniel) of Biddeford, Maine, Sean Finnell and his partner Gary Walbridge of Washington, D.C. and B.J. Finnell (Joan) of Chester, Vt.; brother, Deacon William Shaughnessy of Brookfield; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; husband, William A. Finnell; and sisters, Betty, Alice, Vera and Barbara.
Calling hours are Thursday, Nov. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m. meeting directly at St. Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown. Interment will follow in St. Rose Cemetery, Sandy Hook.
Contributions may be made to the Child and Family Guidance Center of Bridgeport, 180 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604 or to Beacon Hospice of York, 42 Brickyard Court, York, ME 03909.
For more information, please visit: www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com
Click here to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.