2 Cranford Women Honored For Volunteerism, Community Impact

CRANFORD, NJ - Four Union County women, including two Cranford residents, are set to be honored by the Union County Daughters of Ireland next month.

Mary Ellen O’Neill and Kim Capece, of Cranford, as well as Sister Percylee Hart of Scotch Plains and Amber Lueddeke of Vauxhall, will be recognized for their immense contributions to the community at the organization’s Irish Heritage Dinner on April 27.

Fanwood native O’Neill, a flight attendant, will be honored as this year’s community service honoree for organizing donations of hotel toiletries in Newark, fundraising for low-income families and volunteering to fly sick children from local hospitals to the “North Pole,” decorating planes and Newark Airport to look like Santa’s Village. After the Sept. 11 attacks, O’Neill volunteered on military charter flights bringing troops in and out of Kuwait.

When O’Neill was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, she organized chemo bags for other patients going through the same experience. Teaming up with the Bosom Buddies, alongside Downtown Cranford, O’Neill organized a Pink Out dinner to raise $3,000. She’s helped make and drop off 22 baskets filled with goodies from local businesses for families affected by cancer.

Additionally, Capece, co-owner of Cranford’s Augusta Mae Boutique, will be recognized with as a distinguished service honoree for mentoring high school students aspiring to work in retail, supporting local artisans through installations and using her platform as the first female Board Member on the Cranford PAL to launch the Field of Dreams, a sporting event for children with special needs.

“She was instrumental in establishing the Cranford PAL Will DeGregorio Scholarship Fund which is annually awarded to four Cranford High School seniors who have overcome challenges through perseverance, bravery or courage,” the Union County Daughters of Ireland wrote in a biography of the honoree.

During the pandemic, Capece and her daughter Brianna also teamed up to deliver meals prepared by local restaurants, as well as volunteered for efforts that raised money for meals for first responders.

The Irish Heritage Dinner will take place at 7 p.m. at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. To buy tickets to the event, click here.