Eileen R. Houlihan

Eileen was born in Chicago. She actually had 2 birth certificates: one said she was born 11/5/1910 and the other said she was born in 1911. That's what happens when the records building burns down! She would never admit her age, even to the census taker. Finally she admitted that it was 1911. She was orphaned at the age of 6. She and her younger sister, Lorraine, went to live with Aunt May Mahony and Ed Mahony. She loved Aunt May and was ever indebted to her. When she was a teenager, she danced in variety shows and vaudeville. She was always a ham and she "posed" for almost all her pictures. She met John Houlihan sometime (dates are sketchy). The dated for a long time and finally got hitched in 1946, after the big one, World War II. The moved to Melrose Park. She gave up her career as the first Ernestine with the phone company (Lily Tomlin would have been proud)and became a mother and housewife. Mike came along in 1947; Tim 1949; Terry in 1950 and Kathy in 1951. Grandma Houlihan use to say, "When John threw his pants on the bed, Eileen got pregnant." They were members of Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park. She volunteered many hours there and at the school. She had a special devotion to Mary, the Blessed Virgin. She helped everyone who needed it. She use to make bread (that's how she came to be known to her family as Bake, Bake, Bake, Eileen)and sent the children out to deliver it all over Melrose Park. In 1965 they moved to Arlington Heights, where they were founding members of St. Edna's Parish. She spent many hours volunteering at St. Ednas, and started the Religious Goods store there. Her daughter-in-law, the late Chris Houlihan, used to call it "St. Edna's Airport Gift Shop". Eileen was very proud of that store and her contributions to St. Ednas. She had many wonderful friends at St. Ednas. As she advanced in age, and especially after John died in 1993, many of the fellow parishioners would take her to daily Mass and help her with errands and continued friendship. Most notable were the Burkes, Lannoyes and Gallaghers. There were many, many more who helped her, and I am sorry not to know each one of your names, hence the reason this is done by anonymous! Ruth Murphy and her were great cohorts and participated in many charitable acts together. Eileen and John had 4 children; there are 6 grandchildren, and now 2 great grandchildren. She had a great sense of humor and never took herself too seriously. She was very compassionate and kind, smiled often and enjoyed being teased as she loved to tease. We will miss her greatly. She had a way of bringing you into her life and making you welcome and developing special, personal connections with you. God Bless her and God Bless all of you.