Eileen Frances Grahl

On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Eileen F. Grahl (née Dougherty), aged 96, passed away peacefully at her home in Ingleside, King Farm, Rockville, MD, surrounded by her four children.

Eileen was born in Bethlehem, PA on July 20, 1929 to Eugene and Kathleen Dougherty, the sixth of ten siblings. Eileen was the devoted wife to Robert (Bob) L. Grahl, who preceded her in death in 2023 after 64 years of marriage. She also outlived her nine beloved siblings: Mary, James, Kathleen, Eugene, Theresa, Thomas, Sarah, Michael, and Sheila. Eileen is survived by her four children: Eric Grahl (Michele) of Key West, FL, Elizabeth (Charles) Ray of Alexandria, VA, Kathleen (John) Dwyer of Gaithersburg, MD, and Rebecca (Thomas) Spellios of Coronado, CA. Eileen cherished her nine grandchildren: Sarah Ray (Kyle Scott), Ren (Alex) Ray-Holton, Catherine Ray, Madeleine (Collin) Dwyer Schirf, Esq., Patrick Dwyer (Cassie Szymczyk), Sean Dwyer (Jordan Hyde), Alexandra Spellios, William Spellios, Elizabeth Spellios, and one great grandchild, Ramona Sky Ray-Scott. Eileen was also a beloved aunt to 46 nieces and nephews.

Eileen spent her early childhood in Bethlehem and Easton, PA before moving with her family to Philadelphia. After graduating from Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls in 1947, she took a job with the Philadelphia Bulletin. In 1951, Eileen joined the U.S. State Department Foreign Service as a secretary. Her early career took her across the globe to Tehran, New Delhi, Palermo, Jakarta, and Manila, where a mutual acquaintance introduced her to Bob. It was a meeting that would change her life.

Married in 1959, the newlyweds were briefly posted in Panama City, Panama before moving to the D.C. area and starting a family.

In 1962, with two small children in tow, Bob’s work brought the young couple to live in Rome, Italy. Following the end of his assignment, and the birth of two more children, they moved back to the DC area and settled in Potomac, MD. In 1969, another overseas post took the family to Bangkok, Thailand for two years, after which they returned to Potomac.

Eileen was a dedicated stay-at-home mother when her children were small. She rejoined the work force again as a secretary for several private companies. Eventually she returned to government service as a CIA administrative assistant, where she had temporary posts in Korea, Burma, and Sweden. Eileen completed her career and came full-circle on a full-time assignment to Rome, a city she and Bob loved.

Eileen kept busy during her retirement years spending time with the families of her children, locally, across the country and abroad; volunteering at the Children’s Inn at NIH; playing bridge with her best friends, aka the “Bridge Ladies”; and exploring more of the world with Bob on numerous overseas vacations. A faithful Catholic, she was a parishioner at Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church for 44 years.

Since early childhood, Eileen vacationed with her parents and siblings in Ocean City, NJ — a beloved family tradition that continues to this day with her children, grandchildren, great granddaughter and many nieces and nephews.

Eileen was truly a woman ahead of her time; working and traveling the world in her youth; marrying the love of her life at 29 and raising a family; then returning to the workforce where she traveled the world again. She will always be remembered by those fortunate enough to have had her in their lives, she was feisty, funny and frank, a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. We will miss her dearly, but find peace in knowing she is reunited with her beloved husband, and her family and friends who have gone before her.

A private family visitation will be held on Saturday, September 27th at Thibadeau Mortuary Service in Gaithersburg, MD with a Mass at St, Mary’s Catholic Church in Rockville, MD and burial at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Donations in Eileen’s memory can be made to the charities closest to her heart — Little Sisters of The Poor, Little Flower Catholic School for Girls in Philadelphia, and The Children’s Inn at NIH.

Care entrusted to Thibadeau Mortuary Service, p.a.124 E. Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-5009www.InterFaithFunerals.com(301) 495-4950