The Easter Parade ONeil's

  
In the 1940's and 50's one of the most indelible images of Boston was that of the ONeil sisters, all ten of them eventually, in matching dresses, bonnets and corsages walking in the Easter Parade on Commonwealth Avenue.

Scroll down to see more ONeil family paintings and photographs.



The ONeil's:Ten Sisters,Two Brothers, Watercolor by Ginny ONeil. Prints available.

It was so rare that older brother Larry and younger brother Daniel
were ever in our photos together so for this painting I added
our brothers to the image that I was working from.



Watercolor right:
The Singing Lesson
by Ginny ONeil
image: 18 x 16 in. NFS
This painting was from a 1946 photograph of Mama at the piano coaching us in our singing rehearsal for a show. There are just eight girls in the family at this time.

Jenny McNeil ONeil
 Grandmother from
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Watercolor by Ginny ONeil





Maria da Gloria
Fernandes Oliveira
 Grandmother from
Funchal, Madeira
Watercolor by Ginny ONeil



It was a damp and rainy Easter Sunday in 1953. The crowds were not there but the ONeil family walked on Commonwealth Avenue. Our older brother Larry was stationed in Germany with the US Army.



Mama made us beautiful turquoise coats and hats trimmed with black, and she made her coat to match. Brother Larry and Dad were in back of us while hundreds walked behind.




This photo at right of the youngest girls, Danielle and Frances surveying ten pairs of shoes ready for Easter Sunday.
Life used a variation of this shot with the hats and gloves included.

Life Magazine
April 7, 1952,
pp 40-41
In the Spring of 1952 Life Magazine sent photographer Nina Leen to Jamaica Plain to photograph our family preparing for Easter. The above picture was taken outside Blessed Sacrament Church in a preview shot of us in our new outfits – warm gray sharkskin wool jackets with peplum and flared skirts.
 
   
 
In April 1953 ten sisters surround Mama as she sews final touches on our new outfits for the upcoming Easter Parade.

(see Boston American,
April 2, 1953 for front page photo and inside story.		    
       
 
Easter Parade 1946

Boston Herald		    
       
 
In 1952 the ONeil's were invited to the New York City Easter Parade. After mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral we were introduced to Cardinal Spellman in his residence. Singer and author, Jessica Dragonette appears with our family.


For many more
ONeil family photos
see this new site
 		 

 
 


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