Eileen Laughlin

Eileen Lynch Laughlin VIRGINIA BEACH - Eileen Lynch Laughlin passed away in Virginia Beach Nov. 13, 2010 with her loving and caring daughter by her side. She would have been 87 years old Nov. 19, 2010. Born Nov. 19, 1923 in Swissvale, Pa., Eileen was predeceased by her parents, James D. Lynch and Catherine McCue Lynch and her only sibling, Margaret (Red) Geiger. Eileen grew up in Swissvale and graduated from Franklin Township High School where she won letters in varsity basketball and softball. She is survived by her daughter, Eileen L. "Sis" Schneider and her husband Jay Schneider of Virginia Beach; three sons, James E. Laughlin Jr. and his wife Kathy Ogburn Laughlin of Troutville, Va., David A. Laughlin and his wife Linda M. Laughlin of Chesapeake and Joseph M. Laughlin of Virginia Beach. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Tara, Katie, Joseph Jr. and David Jr.; great-grandchildren, Morgan, Taylor and Lauren; a nephew, Ronald Geiger; a niece, Peggy Ann Pressley; as well as grand- and great-grandnephews and -nieces. Eileen's first employment was with the Westinghouse Corporation in Pittsburgh. She retired as supervisor of Personnel Support Detachment at Little Creek Amphibious Base after 22 years of civil service. After retiring, she went through the Respite Caregiver Training Program for the City of Virginia Beach. Once completing the program, she worked for the M. E. Cox Center for Elder Day Care before retiring once again at the age of 72. However, Mom always felt her most important role in life was raising her four children whom she put before any of her own needs her entire life. Mom never knew a stranger. Standing in line at a grocery store, she would know the life history of the cashier and the people in line with her; someone was always from her hometown of Pittsburgh. Her daughter remembers one late night when Mom was being transported from Sentara Leigh to Sentara Norfolk for tests and Mom talked nonstop all the way there and back with the attendants in the ambulance, of course, one of them was from Pittsburgh. Her daughter looked at the driver and said, "I must have been adopted." Mom and Sis shared that joke for many years. Throughout her many hospital stays and many long nights in the ER, she never complained and always thanked every nurse, aide and physician who handled her care. They always said, "Your mother is such a sweet lady." The family would especially like to thank Dr. Randolph Garnett with Sentara's Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine for his many years of kind and attentive care to Mom. He never rushed through her checkups and spent time going through her complete medical file of all her care providers offering advice and guidance. At her last checkup, Mom told him he could not retire until she no longer needed him and he promised her he would not. Her daughter sincerely appreciates Dr. Garnett's compassion, encouragement and support over the past several years. The family would also like to thank Dr. Michael Charles with Sentara Family Practice for his many years of taking care of Mom. Her daughter sincerely appreciates his call and support when Mom passed away. His thoughts gave her great peace with Mom's sudden passing. In keeping with Mom's wishes, services will be private. Her final resting place on earth will be in the Columbarium Garden at the Church of the Ascension in Virginia Beach where a memorial service will be held at a later date. Mom was a lifelong devout Catholic and like her mother before her (Nanny) said the rosary every night. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Church of the Ascension or Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia. Mom was a kind and gentle soul who never had an unkind word to say about anyone. She would often say "revenge is up to the Lord." After her passing, we found a list of sayings she had written down. One of them was "Fear not tomorrow. God is already there." You are in God's hands now Mom. Rest peacefully with your loved ones in heaven and know you will live forever in our hearts.