Community Involvement
Athletic Sponsorship
Over the years the James O’Donnell Funeral Home has helped to support a wide range of advancements and activities for the betterment of the Hannibal and surrounding communities ranging from our schools, to the arts, and to athletics.
Since the 1920’s athletic involvement and sponsorship have been a long standing tradition at the James O’Donnell Funeral Home. For more than eight decades now the O’Donnell name has graced about every type and size of jersey imaginable. This rich tradition was started by James T. O’Donnell, and carried on by his children Harold O’Donnell and Helen O’Donnell Davis, then Harold’s son, James V. O’Donnell, and now today James J. O’Donnell.
Not only has the O’Donnell name been associated with an array of sports teams, but those teams have often enjoyed a tremendous amount of success. In the 1980’s and 1990’s the O’Donnell’s baseball and softball teams of Hannibal accounted for a national championship in baseball, 4 state championships in men’s fast pitch softball, plus a regional title, and several appearances in the national tournament… including a 1988 9th place finish. The reputation of O’Donnell’s teams is known and respected far beyond the state lines of Missouri.
For well over 100 years the James O’Donnell Funeral Home has been proud to give back to a community that has been so good to the O’Donnell family.
The James O’Donnell Funeral Home is proud to be a part of Hannibal and the surrounding Northeast Missouri communities. We enjoy co-creating with our community meaningful experiences that help our families heal, remember and even celebrate the memories of those we love. All of our events are free and open to all in the communities we serve.
Some of our annual events include an Annual All Saint’s Day Celebration at historic Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hannibal. This fall event allows families to experience the beauty of fall, while being surrounded by the history of Mt. Olivet Cemetery that is home to many of the founding fathers of Hannibal and their families. This event includes a outdoor remembrance ceremony, hay rides, bonfire and delicious homemade treats.
Each Holiday season the James O’Donnell Funeral Home remembers those we loved at our annual Candlelight Memorial Service. This beautiful candle lit service gives families the opportunity to gather together to remember those we love during a Holiday season that is often difficult for families that have experienced a loss. We offer an uplifting ceremony, beautiful Christmas music, keepsake ornaments and personally recognize each loved one that is being remembered at the ceremony.
During the spring we honor those that have went before us at our annual Memorial Day Lantern Float. This unique event invites members of the community to gather at the Hannibal Mississippi Riverfront to remember those we love by personalizing a lighted paper lantern that is then released on the Mississippi River in honor of that special person. This event includes a brief ceremony, a tribute for our veterans and music provided by a local area musician.
This is only a small sample of the events that the James O’Donnell Funeral Home is a part of throughout the year, we encourage you to check our monthly calendar on our webpage and our Facebook page to keep informed about future special events in the community.