Eileen Helen O’Reilly (“Eily”) age 80 of Whittier, CA passed away March 16, 2023 at USC Keck Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.
She had her children at her bedside at the time of her passing.
Born Eileen Helen Sheehan in Cork City, Ireland on August 18, 1942 . Her parents were Lillian (Murphy) Sheehan & Michael Sheehan (her adopted Father).
Her grandparents were Jeremiah & Kate (McCarthy) Murphy.
Eileen grew up in Cork City with her 2 younger sisters Mary & Nora Sheehan.
She enjoyed many fond memories from her childhood taking walks, picking berries , collecting eggs from the henhouse, playing with kittens & a pet goose , feeding & petting all the animals on the farm , meeting up with other countryside neighbors for music & ghost stories in the evenings in the summertime with her 3 cousins Bernie , Breda & Kitty in the countryside of Grenagh, County Cork, Ireland.
Eileen attended school at St. Marie’s of the Isle in Cork City until age 14. Later, Eileen worked as a nanny and also worked in a few local factories around Cork City. As a young lady, she attended Cork City dance halls with her friends. One evening at the Arcadia Dance Hall she met the Love of her Life, “Tom” Thomas A. O’Reilly from Dublin. Tom worked at the “Heel Bar” inside the Switzers Department store in Cork City.
Tom & Eileen married in Church of the Immaculate Conception , The Lough-Parish Church (1879) in Cork City on September 29, 1964. They went to Coventry, England to live and work for about a year before returning to Ireland to emigrate to the United States in 1965 and finally settled down in Whittier, CA. Eileen was a homemaker for 57 years. Later in her life after being widowed at age 50, she enjoyed working as a teacher’s aide for Special Education at the local school district and she volunteered at the local hospitals and senior centers helping with leading many Senior group bus trips. Her favorite place was Laguna Beach. She enjoyed gardening , chatting on the telephone and spending time with family & friends.
Eileen and Thomas O’Reilly raised 5 children ( including a set of twin daughters) who will remember fondly Sunday drives in the family station wagons, summers of swimming, going to Campland in Mission Bay, San Diego, many trips to the various California beaches & amusement parks , also attending many air shows to watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform.
Eileen is survived by her 5 Children:
Jean O’Reilly-McCahera & Michael of Kingman, Arizona.
Janet O’Reilly Von-Borstel & Carl of Whittier, CA.
Karen O’Reilly Flahive & Danny
of La Quinta, CA.
Brian & Naomi O’Reilly & family of
Henderson, NV.
Brendan & Cristina O’Reilly & family of
Whittier, CA.
Grandchildren: Dylan, Erin , Colin, Ava and Natalie O’Reilly.
Step-Brother: Ned Sheehan of Cork, Ireland
Nephews: Kenneth Deane of Limerick, Ireland & Darren O’Leary of Ireland.
Nieces: Michelle (Deane) of Middleton, Co. Cork ,Ireland & Priscilla ( Deane) of Newcastle, U.K. Aisling O’Leary of Ireland.
Cousins: Breda Herlihy of Cheltenham , U. K.(and family) & Bernie Murphy of Grenagh, Co. Cork, Ireland (and family).
And many wonderful friends and neighbors.
Eileen was preceded in death by her husband Thomas and Sisters Nora O’Leary of Cork City and Mary Deane of Middleton, in County Cork , Ireland.
Irish Blessing
May the road rise up
to meet you.
May the wind be always
at your back.
May the sun shine warm
upon your face,
and the rains fall soft
upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the
palm of His hand.
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