Eileen Keating

Eileen Keating passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, in West Hampton, NY. She was a beautiful, funny, brilliant, empathic and amazing person who charmed everyone she met with her bright blue eyes and quick wit. She and her beloved husband, William (who predeceased her in April 2024), made their home in Laurel, NY in 1979. There they enjoyed a long and happy life filled with more laughter than tears and many wonderful memories. She made her home a truly magical place filled with beautiful and eclectic objects, each with its own story. She loved antiques, art and unusual items. And she also loved stones, whether it was a fine gem, a crystal or just a beautiful rock she had come across in her travels, and she was a beloved member of the local lapidary club and enjoyed attending gem shows across the region.

Eileen’s first marriage produced two daughters, Darlene and Veronica. Darlene would go on to have three children, Jamie, Chelsea and Ian, who would go on to have a child each, Ariyah, Toshi and Uriah. Eileen’s grand and great-grandchildren were the absolute joy of her life. Veronica married her husband, Stephen Perina, and they made their home in the Finger Lakes of New York. Eileen also truly loved her “daughter from another mother”, Terry Connelly. Eileen, Veronica and Terry would go on to have many adventures and wonderful vacations together.

There are not many left of her kind. She moved through a room with such poise and grace, then would sit down next to you and tell a joke that would make a sailor blush! Eileen was an earthy, old world, Celtic creature (her mother even spoke Gaelic!) who knew so much about and practiced many aspects of the old ways. She collected the first rain of May, known as “holy water”; she used herbs and essential oils to heal and soothe, and her knowledge of stones and their powers and purposes was amazing. Her cooking was legendary; each dish was prepared with flourish and love. Everything she touched, she made beautiful, from her small garden, incredible hand tied ribbon bows, or the elaborate gift baskets she was famous for. Although her life was not always an easy one, she loved her family and her friends fiercely, which gave her such great strength. Her passing has left a void in so many lives, not only for her family, but also her many friends, fans, and just everyday people whose lives she touched. We were all made better for having had the blessing of knowing her in this life.