Edel O'Toole passed from this life and went home to God on July 12, 2026.

Edel was born and raised in Ireland, on a small dairy farm in County Wexford, and named Margaret Mary Dunne. One of seven siblings, she was affectionately (and still today) called "Peggy" whenever we have gone back to see her extended family. At the age of 18 she came to the United States to join the Sisters of Mercy in St. Louis. After several years of religious formation, she took the name, Sr. Mary Edel. Educated as a nurse, Edel received her BSN from St. Louis University, and over the next several years served in Mercy hospitals in Vicksburg, MS; Fort Smith, AR; St. Louis, MO; and Oklahoma City, OK. Edel went back to school and received her MHA from Washington University, and then served in nursing leadership roles at Mercy St. Louis Hospital (known as St. John's back then) before becoming president and CEO of Mercy Hospital Washington for eight years.

Edel thoroughly enjoyed being a Sister of Mercy, living in community with the other Sisters, and sharing in their common commitment to care for those who are poor and most in need. But after 25 years in religious life, Edel received a "better offer," and chose to leave the Sisters of Mercy to marry Brian O'Toole. Married for almost 40 years, they were blessed with two children, Brendan and Bridget, and a grandson, DeAndre.

Edel loved being a wife and mother, and capably balanced her home and work life. She was involved in school activities, insisted on cooking a family meal each evening, and family vacations were always wonderful annual trips back to Ireland for the kids to play on the family farm for several weeks.

Edel continued her professional career by serving for nine years as president and CEO of St. Anthony Hospital in Michigan City, IN; she then was president and CEO for the Ryan Senior Homes, a system of nine nursing homes owned by the archdiocese of Detroit; and upon returning to St. Louis served as the administrator of independent living for Lutheran Senior Services in Laclede Groves. Edel never officially "retired," but finally stepped back to help care for Brian's aging parents, and to work part-time assisting the Sisters of Mercy in financial and legal matters with the transition of their St. Louis province to the unified Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.

With her increasing free time, Edel enjoyed golfing and socializing with her many friends at the St. Albans Country Club. But she regularly volunteered in a variety of ways at her Catholic parish, St. Alban Roe, including being the volunteer nurse for the grade school. Edel also enjoyed serving as a volunteer nurse in the emergency department at Mercy Hospital St. Louis.

Sadly, five years ago Edel received the diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia. While she experienced a slow but steady diminishment, both mentally and physically, she handled it throughout with grace and class. Even towards the end when there was so much she did not understand or comprehend, she always remained a very loving and faith-filled person. Edel died at home in the care of her husband and children, and with the wonderful support of Mercy Hospice.

Edel is survived by her husband, Brian O'Toole; her son, Brendan (Shelby) O'Toole; her daughter Bridget O'Toole; and her grandson, DeAndre O'Toole; her siblings, Nancy Kennedy, James (Marcella) Dunne, Willie (Joan) Dunne, Katherine (John) Brien, and John Dunne; and numerous nieces and nephews. Edel was preceded in death by her parents, James Dunne and Margaret Brett, and her brother, Hugh Dunne and his wife, Peg.

A visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the SCHRADER Funeral Home, 14960 Manchester Road, Ballwin, MO. We will gather in the Family Center, the large building directly behind the funeral home.

In the spirit of the traditional "Irish wake," the family invites you to join in participating in a "Sharing of Memories" from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. during the visitation, in which we can recall some of our favorite memories or stories about Edel. Light refreshments and an invitation to "stay awhile and visit" will be part of Edel's Irish visitation.

A Mass of the Resurrection is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at St. Alban Roe Catholic Church, 2001 Shepard Road, Wildwood, MO. Immediately after Mass, all are invited to fellowship and a light lunch in the hall under the church.

Sometime next month Brian will take Edel's cremated remains one last time over to Ireland, where she will be buried in her small country parish cemetery next to her family's grave site, in the new "O'Toole" family plot.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations offered to the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas to support the Sisters and their ministries.  Please share memories of Edel and condolences with the family in the online guestbook at www.Schrader.com.