Longtime Horsham Resident, 'Bamba' To Grandkids, Passes Away

HORSHAM, PA — A longtime township resident has passed away.

Elaine San Diego O’Donnell died peacefully at her home on Aug. 2. She would have been 66 years old next month.

O’Donnell, who resided in Horsham for more than two decades, was the daughter of the late Flaviano and Eusebia Belmonte, each of who had successfully emigrated to the United States from the Philippines, according to her obituary, provided to Patch by her family.

Flaviano made several immigration attempts between the years of 1926 and 1939 before becoming a U.S. resident, and Eusebia emigrated to the States through a sponsorship program as a Registered Nurse after serving in the Army Nurses Corp. of the Philippines during World War II, the obituary states.

O’Donnell was born on Sept. 23, 1955 in Chicago. She ended up raising seven children: Leslie, Ryan, Jonathan, Hugh III, Matthew, Kerri and Brenna.

She was also known as ‘Bamba’ to her five grandchildren: Brynn, Connor, Kelsey, Owen and Lincoln.

O’Donnell had four siblings: Ray, Janet, Carole and Sharon. She was also a “fur mama” to her dog, Honey, whom she adored.

O’Donnell was inherently selfless and nurturing by nature, her family said in the obituary. Following in the footsteps of her mother, O’Donnell went on to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, a career she stayed in for 30 years. She took great pride in caring for her patients and their loved ones and looked after them as if they were her own.

“She possessed an undeniable warmth and openness to all who crossed her path and found great joy in watching her family evolve and grow,” her obituary states. Those closest to her also knew her to have a spunky sense of humor and an undeniable sweet tooth. She will be deeply missed.”

A life celebration for O’Donnell will be held on Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Campbell Family Funeral Home in Glenside. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Make a Wish Foundation or Penn State IFC/Penhellenic Dance Marathon (THON.org).

The obituary states that all are welcome to attend the life celebration and those in attendance are encouraged to join her family in wearing color to commemorate her "radiant spirit."