Obituary of Sherlene O'Donnell

SHERLENE O’DONNEL

1934-2025

Sherlene O'Donnell of Boonton Township, New Jersey died on August 17, 2025. She was born Sherlene Johnson on September 1, 1934 in Washington, D.C. to Lambert and Mary (nee Frenzel) Johnson. She also lived in Vienna, Virginia with her maternal grandparents and in foster care in Catlett, Virginia with Hilda and W.G. Francis and in Arlington, Virginia with her mother and step-father Edward Decker. During her first marriage she (as Sherlene Hailey) lived in several states and came to New Jersey in 1967. She met John O'Donnell in 1971 and they remained together until her death. She changed her name back to her maiden name in 1990. She married John on November 15, 1992.

Sherlene was employed at Bells Labs and succeeding companies, starting in the secretarial pool and, after graduating from Monmouth University, moving up to be a Member of the Technical Staff (MTS) in the Human Factors Department. She later founded and ran Teleconnections, Inc. and S.J. Johnson & Associates.

After retiring, Sherlene took quilting classes and became an avid and skilled quilter. She taught at adult school and quilt shop classes. She was the founder of the Rockaway Valley Quilters.

She is survived by her husband John, her son Christopher of Honolulu, daughter Lisa of Whiting, New Jersey, sister Norma Jean Best of Fairfax, Virginia, and cousin Betty Jane Tayler of Wayne Pennsylvania. Her sister Dorothy Pierre predeceased her.

There will be no wake, funeral or memorial service. Just remember her with love.