Losing someone is heavy. It's a weight that doesn't just sit on your chest; it changes how you see the world. When you're looking for o donnell cookson funeral home obituaries, you aren’t just looking for a name and a date. You are looking for a story. Honestly, in a place like Quincy, Illinois, those stories are the thread that holds the whole community together.
I’ve spent a lot of time looking at how families honor their loved ones. Some people want a quiet, private moment. Others want a "Life Celebration" that feels like a party. O'Donnell-Cookson has basically mastered the art of doing both. They understand that a 95-year-old great-grandmother like Imogene Weston, who passed just this January, deserves a different kind of tribute than someone who died far too young.
Why the O’Donnell-Cookson Name Carries So Much Weight
You can’t talk about these obituaries without talking about the history. This isn't some corporate-owned chain. It’s a family business. In 2019, Jim O'Donnell bought the Zehender-Robinson-Stormer-Cookson Funeral Home, merging two long-standing legacies into one.
The O’Donnell family has been in the funeral business since 1901. That’s five generations. When you see Rory O'Donnell or Rod Cookson at the door, you're seeing people whose families have been helping Quincy and Hannibal residents for over a century. That matters because when they write an obituary, they often know the family. They know the history of the person who passed.
Finding Current O Donnell Cookson Funeral Home Obituaries
If you’re looking for a specific person right now, the easiest way is through their official portal. Recent listings include folks like Marsha Hollembeak Loos and John H. Shaw, both of whom passed in early 2026.
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The online obituary section at O'Donnell-Cookson isn't just a list. It’s a "Tribute Wall." You’ll see:
- Full service details (dates, times, and locations).
- The "Tribute Wall" where friends post memories.
- Options to send flowers or plant a memorial tree.
- Direct links to the livestream if the family is webcasting the service.
It’s kinda interesting how much technology has changed this. I remember when you had to wait for the local paper to hit the porch to see who had passed. Now, you can sign up for email alerts. Legacy.com and Tribute Archive also mirror these listings, but the funeral home's own site is usually the most accurate and "real" version.
The Nuance of the "Life Celebration"
What really sets o donnell cookson funeral home obituaries apart is the philosophy of a "Life Celebration." It’s not just a fancy name. It’s a different way of looking at death.
Take Katherine "Kathy" Calvin, for example. Her obituary from last year wasn't just a list of survivors. It talked about her love for the Chicago Cubs, her unmatched lasagna, and the 25 cats and dogs she cared for over her lifetime. It mentioned her favorite mystery novels and her 37-year marriage to Scott.
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That’s what a good obituary does. It makes you feel like you knew the person, even if you didn't.
A History of Community Roots
The funeral home is located at 1435 State Street in Quincy. If those walls could talk, they’d tell the story of the Cookson family starting in Plymouth and Augusta back in the 40s and 60s. Or the O'Donnells, who started in Hannibal and eventually expanded into Quincy.
They do a lot more than just funerals. Every year, they hold a Candlelight Memorial Service during the holidays. It’s for people who are struggling with grief when everyone else is celebrating. They also do a Lantern Float on the Mississippi River in the spring. It’s pretty beautiful, honestly. People write messages on lanterns and let them go over the water.
Practical Steps for Families
If you are the one tasked with writing an obituary or planning a service at O'Donnell-Cookson, here is how the process actually works. You aren't doing this alone.
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- The Interview: You’ll sit down with a director like Rory or Jim. They’ll ask about the "spark"—the things that made your loved one who they were.
- The Drafting: They help you gather the facts. Names of parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren.
- The Tribute Wall: Once it’s live, the community takes over. This is often the most healing part. Reading a story from a high school friend you haven't seen in 40 years can change your whole perspective on the day.
- Permanent Record: These obituaries stay online. They become part of the digital archive of Quincy’s history.
What Most People Get Wrong About Funerals
People think funerals are for the dead. They aren't. They are for the living.
A lot of folks tell me they want "nothing" when they die. "Just throw me in a hole," they say. But the obituary and the service give the people left behind a place to put their grief. Without it, that grief just sort of floats around with nowhere to land.
O'Donnell-Cookson focuses on "meaningful experiences." Whether it’s a veteran’s service with full military honors or a simple visitation, the goal is the same: closure.
Actionable Next Steps for You
If you are searching for information today, here is what you should do:
- Visit the Official Site: Go directly to the O'Donnell-Cookson website to see the most current service times. Things change fast, and the local paper might be a day behind.
- Use the Search Filter: Their site allows you to filter by "Last 30 Days" or "Last 60 Days." If you’re looking for someone from a few months ago, use the "All" filter.
- Sign Up for Alerts: If you want to keep up with the community, you can register for email notifications. This is helpful if you live out of town but still want to send flowers or a card.
- Contribute to the Tribute Wall: If you see a name you recognize, leave a comment. Even a "Thinking of you" matters more than you think.
Grief is a long road. Having a place like O'Donnell-Cookson to document the journey makes the walk a little less lonely. Whether you're researching family history or mourning a recent loss, these obituaries are more than just text on a screen. They are the record of a life lived in the heart of the Midwest.