Westchester County community coming together in wake of 'shocking' tragedy involving beloved teacher
Neighbors in a heartbroken community of Yonkers are leaning on each other for support. It's in the wake of an apparent murder-suicide between a retired police officer and his wife, a beloved Eastchester teacher.
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Neighbors in a heartbroken community of Yonkers are leaning on each other for support. It's in the wake of an apparent murder suicide between a retired police officer and his wife, a beloved Eastchester teacher.
A special Mass was held Thursday evening at the Annunciation Church in Yonkers. It was aimed at helping those impacted by this deeply shocking tragedy.
"A lot of my friends are related to them. It's just devastating, so devastating," says Brian Walsh, who lives down the street.
It happened early Wednesday morning at the family's home on Chittenden Avenue. Police say retired New York City Police officer, Sean O'Neill shot and killed his wife, Arlene. Then, he turned the gun on himself, according to police.
Arlene was a beloved teacher at Anne Hutchinson School. Family, friends, neighbors and the people she worked with are devastated.
An Eastchester mental health expert says getting through this kind of traumatic event is difficult, especially for children.
"You want to do what's best for you and your family during this time. If someone wants to go to religious services, go to that. If someone wants to go to the memorial services, do that as well. For children, ask them if they want to go, I wouldn't force it," says Dr. Angela Reiter.
The O'Neill's have three kids of their own. They're 11, 13, and 15 years old. They were home when this tragedy happened. They weren't physically hurt, according to officers.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help those kids. It has already raised more than $200,000.
The Eastchester Board of Education has released the following statement along with links to resources for the community:
"Our hearts are heavy with the unimaginable tragedy that transpired within our community yesterday. We are all devastated by the tragic loss of Mrs. O’Neill and mourn alongside our fellow community members. Mrs. O’Neill was not just an exceptional teacher but also a cherished member of our community who touched the lives of countless students and colleagues.
We will all miss Arlene very much and will spend many difficult moments grieving her loss. At this challenging time, we ask members of the community to keep Arlene, her three sons, and the rest of her family and friends in their thoughts and prayers.
Our district believes that love and compassion are crucial elements of how we heal the wounds of this tragedy in the days and months ahead. Creating a safe environment for our students, our teachers, and community members will also help in this process. If your child is upset or exhibiting signs of difficulty in coping, then please contact his/her principal, guidance counselor, or teacher.
We have asked our district support team to ensure that access is provided during school hours for support services to everyone in the Eastchester School District family (Resources Below). As a community, we stand together in that effort."
LIST OF RESOURCES:
● The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Helping Children Cope With Tragedy
● Child Mind Institute: Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event
● National Institute of Mental Health: Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Traumatic Events
● The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/
● MHA Of Westchester: Get Help Now | MHA
● Mental Health & Addiction Services — The Guidance Center of Westchester
● Community Services & Family Support | The Arc Westchester
