After two years, 7 months and 28 days of sadness, on May 19, 2011, Mother was finally reunited with the love of her life and we know the smile has returned to her face. She was born, Eileen Patricia Maher, December 23, 1924 to Michael and Jane Maher in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the youngest of six children. Her brothers and sisters called her the best Christmas Present ever. She grew up in New London, Connecticut surrounded by love. She attended a private girls' high school and Connecticut College in New London.
Her world changed on December 7, 1941 and she loved to tell the story to the grandchildren about being at a Sunday afternoon movie when the announcement came that all military personnel should return to their bases immediately. She counted the days until she was old enough to enlist in the Coast Guard and support the war effort. On her birthday, she signed up and served as a radio operator in Boston and at a lighthouse on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She was very proud of her service.
As the war was ending, she went for a weekend in Atlantic City, New Jersey and had a chance encounter on the famed Boardwalk in Atlantic City with a handsome Air Force Navigator, who was also on leave. A year later on September 21, 1946 she married the love of her life, Len Cole, in New London, Connecticut and together they spent the next 62 years raising a family and enjoying being grandparents. Len's job took them from New York to Connecticut to Idaho and Massachusetts. Finally they retired to Richland 30 years ago to be closer to their son and daughter and two of their grandchildren.
Mother loved living on the golf course, playing golf, bridge with several bridge clubs, and dancing to the "Big Band" songs whenever she could.
On October 20, 2008, the light left her eyes when Len died and she never found joy in a life without him.
Eileen is survived by her son, Scott, her daughter, Bonnie, grandchildren, Peggy, Patti, Shawn, Jennifer, Kellie, Dean and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers and three sisters, one great-grandson and her beloved husband, Len.
Our family wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who tried to make her journey easier. It's been a long, difficult journey for her and we are comforted knowing that her pain has ended. Thank you Guardian Angels in Richland, Fleur De Lis at Canyon Lakes and the last months at Life Care Center of Kennewick. I know you all gave her the best care available. Thank you Michael, Julie, Dara and Paul from Hospice at the Chaplaincy for making it possible for me to keep her at home these past weeks. You were incredible!
Graveside services will be held on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 10:00am at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, WA with full military honors.
Her world changed on December 7, 1941 and she loved to tell the story to the grandchildren about being at a Sunday afternoon movie when the announcement came that all military personnel should return to their bases immediately. She counted the days until she was old enough to enlist in the Coast Guard and support the war effort. On her birthday, she signed up and served as a radio operator in Boston and at a lighthouse on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She was very proud of her service.
As the war was ending, she went for a weekend in Atlantic City, New Jersey and had a chance encounter on the famed Boardwalk in Atlantic City with a handsome Air Force Navigator, who was also on leave. A year later on September 21, 1946 she married the love of her life, Len Cole, in New London, Connecticut and together they spent the next 62 years raising a family and enjoying being grandparents. Len's job took them from New York to Connecticut to Idaho and Massachusetts. Finally they retired to Richland 30 years ago to be closer to their son and daughter and two of their grandchildren.
Mother loved living on the golf course, playing golf, bridge with several bridge clubs, and dancing to the "Big Band" songs whenever she could.
On October 20, 2008, the light left her eyes when Len died and she never found joy in a life without him.
Eileen is survived by her son, Scott, her daughter, Bonnie, grandchildren, Peggy, Patti, Shawn, Jennifer, Kellie, Dean and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers and three sisters, one great-grandson and her beloved husband, Len.
Our family wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who tried to make her journey easier. It's been a long, difficult journey for her and we are comforted knowing that her pain has ended. Thank you Guardian Angels in Richland, Fleur De Lis at Canyon Lakes and the last months at Life Care Center of Kennewick. I know you all gave her the best care available. Thank you Michael, Julie, Dara and Paul from Hospice at the Chaplaincy for making it possible for me to keep her at home these past weeks. You were incredible!
Graveside services will be held on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 10:00am at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, WA with full military honors.
After two years, 7 months and 28 days of sadness, on May 19, 2011, Mother was finally reunited with the love of her life and we know the smile has returned to her face. She was born, Eileen Patricia Maher, December 23, 1924 to Michael and Jane Maher in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the youngest of six children. Her brothers and sisters called her the best Christmas Present ever. She grew up in New London, Connecticut surrounded by love. She attended a private girls' high school and Connecticut College in New London.
Her world changed on December 7, 1941 and she loved to tell the story to the grandchildren about being at a Sunday afternoon movie when the announcement came that all military personnel should return to their bases immediately. She counted the days until she was old enough to enlist in the Coast Guard and support the war effort. On her birthday, she signed up and served as a radio operator in Boston and at a lighthouse on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She was very proud of her service.
As the war was ending, she went for a weekend in Atlantic City, New Jersey and had a chance encounter on the famed Boardwalk in Atlantic City with a handsome Air Force Navigator, who was also on leave. A year later on September 21, 1946 she married the love of her life, Len Cole, in New London, Connecticut and together they spent the next 62 years raising a family and enjoying being grandparents. Len's job took them from New York to Connecticut to Idaho and Massachusetts. Finally they retired to Richland 30 years ago to be closer to their son and daughter and two of their grandchildren.
Mother loved living on the golf course, playing golf, bridge with several bridge clubs, and dancing to the "Big Band" songs whenever she could.
On October 20, 2008, the light left her eyes when Len died and she never found joy in a life without him.
Eileen is survived by her son, Scott, her daughter, Bonnie, grandchildren, Peggy, Patti, Shawn, Jennifer, Kellie, Dean and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers and three sisters, one great-grandson and her beloved husband, Len.
Our family wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who tried to make her journey easier. It's been a long, difficult journey for her and we are comforted knowing that her pain has ended. Thank you Guardian Angels in Richland, Fleur De Lis at Canyon Lakes and the last months at Life Care Center of Kennewick. I know you all gave her the best care available. Thank you Michael, Julie, Dara and Paul from Hospice at the Chaplaincy for making it possible for me to keep her at home these past weeks. You were incredible!
Graveside services will be held on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 10:00am at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, WA with full military honors.
Her world changed on December 7, 1941 and she loved to tell the story to the grandchildren about being at a Sunday afternoon movie when the announcement came that all military personnel should return to their bases immediately. She counted the days until she was old enough to enlist in the Coast Guard and support the war effort. On her birthday, she signed up and served as a radio operator in Boston and at a lighthouse on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She was very proud of her service.
As the war was ending, she went for a weekend in Atlantic City, New Jersey and had a chance encounter on the famed Boardwalk in Atlantic City with a handsome Air Force Navigator, who was also on leave. A year later on September 21, 1946 she married the love of her life, Len Cole, in New London, Connecticut and together they spent the next 62 years raising a family and enjoying being grandparents. Len's job took them from New York to Connecticut to Idaho and Massachusetts. Finally they retired to Richland 30 years ago to be closer to their son and daughter and two of their grandchildren.
Mother loved living on the golf course, playing golf, bridge with several bridge clubs, and dancing to the "Big Band" songs whenever she could.
On October 20, 2008, the light left her eyes when Len died and she never found joy in a life without him.
Eileen is survived by her son, Scott, her daughter, Bonnie, grandchildren, Peggy, Patti, Shawn, Jennifer, Kellie, Dean and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers and three sisters, one great-grandson and her beloved husband, Len.
Our family wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who tried to make her journey easier. It's been a long, difficult journey for her and we are comforted knowing that her pain has ended. Thank you Guardian Angels in Richland, Fleur De Lis at Canyon Lakes and the last months at Life Care Center of Kennewick. I know you all gave her the best care available. Thank you Michael, Julie, Dara and Paul from Hospice at the Chaplaincy for making it possible for me to keep her at home these past weeks. You were incredible!
Graveside services will be held on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 10:00am at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, WA with full military honors.
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