Eileen S. Daly

Eileen S. Daly nee Silcox), age 88, formerly of Bryn Mawr and Stone Harbor, N.J., passed away on June 7, 2013. Eileen was born in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia in 1925. She attended elementary school at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish School. In 1943, she graduated from Mater Misericordiae Academy (now Merion Mercy Academy) in Merion Station, PA. After graduating from Immaculata College (now Immaculata University) in 1947 with a degree in biology, she worked as a medical technician at the University of Pennsylvania. Eileen was the loving wife of the late James W. Daly, III, M.D., who died in 1980, at the age of 55 years old. They married in June, 1948. While Dr. Daly maintained his busy medical practice at Lankenau Hospital, Eileen devoted her life to raising their six children. She is survived by her children, Maureen Cooper (Brian), Eileen Killeen (John), Christine Echelmeier (Bernard), James W. (Mary), and Patricia Blacker (Paul). Eileen was preceded in death by her son, Brian C., who died in 1986, at the age of 22 years old, after a year-long battle with leukemia. She was blessed with 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren (with more on their way). She is also survived by her sister, Marie Louise Wiley. In addition to raising her family, Eileen was a past President of the Merion Mercy Academy Mothers' Association, served on the Advisory Board for Merion Mercy Academy and was active in the John B. Deaver Auxiliary of the Women's Board of Lankenau Medical Center. She was also a recipient of the Mother Patricia Waldron Award, which is named for the foundress of Merion Mercy Academy and was awarded to Eileen for her exceptional service to the Merion Mercy Academy Alumnae Association. Eileen was an example of grace, strength and resilience to everyone that she encountered. She waged a valiant 15-year battle with the effects of a major stroke suffered in 1998. Despite being confined to a wheelchair due to paralysis for many of those years, she could still command the room. Even though she was disabled, she was never diminished. She was still the center of her family's universe, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would orbit around her like planets around the sun. In the end, her greatest legacy will be her "family of families" - the ever-widening circle of her children's children. A Mass of Christian Burial was held for Eileen on June 11, 2013, at St. John Neumann Parish in Bryn Mawr. She has been interred at Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken. Donations in Eileen's memory may be made to Merion Mercy Academy, 511 Montgomery Avenue, Merion Station, PA 19066, and are greatly appreciated.