Michael V. O'Neill

Michael Vinson O'Neill, 75, of Pleasant Mount, passed away on Sunday, August 11, 2024 from Lewy Body Dementia.

Born June 6, 1949 in Great Bend, KS, he was the son of the late Robert and Marjorie Vinson O'Neill. He was a 1967 graduate of Forest City Regional and attended Kutztown University. He owned and operated The House of Flowers for 52 years. Michael's career was a very busy one. He studied with floral experts from all over the world. He taught floral design in Taiwan and competed in numerous competitions. He taught designing classes at Pennsylvania College of Technology. He chaired the Boston Symposium in 1998. He was a long-time member of the American Institute of Floral Design, past president from 2003-2004 and headed the AIFD Philadelphia Flower Show on a number of years. He was a member and past president of the Pennsylvania State Florists. He won the “National Designer of America” and went on to compete overseas.

Michael had a wonderful teaching ability. He taught classes through Teleflora and traveled all over the USA to teach. He was a mentor to so many floral designers. Along the way he made lifelong friendships.

Michael was the second child in a big family of eight children to Marge and Bob O'Neill. His parents allowed him to follow his own path, which was very colorful and full of wonderful adventures. He was an artist all his life. Michael looked at the world in a bright and colorful light, whether it be his art or his floral designs.

He is survived by his companion William Zwick, Pleasant Mount; sisters, Mary (Gary) Foster, RI; Colleen (Paul) Kelly, Pleasant Mount; Lourdes (Bill) Brown, Pleasant Mount; Margaret McCormick, Lake Ariel; Martin (Denise) O'Neill, MD; Frank (Danielle) O'Neill, Pleasant Mount.

In addition to his parents, he in predeceased in death by Robert G. O'Neill, Jr., Sgt. Andrew Brown, and Kevin Brady.

Michael donated his body to science, as was his wish for years. Services will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Kevin M. Lesjack Funeral Home, 513 Main Street, Forest City.

Memorial contributions can be made in Michael's name to the AIFD Foundation Scholarship Fund, www.aifdfoundation.org or to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, www.lbda.org.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael V. O'Neill, please visit our floral store.