Mrs. Eileen Marie Roach

I have just learned that my close childhood friend from Haney Street, Eileen, passed away over a year ago. I tried to call her today, which was her birthday, and none of the numbers I had for her were in service. I begain researching her name and found this obituary. (Now I know why I did not get an answer to the email I sent to her on her last birthday) We stayed in touch until about 10 years ago, when, unfortunatately we just lost touch. I have lived in Northern California most of my adult life and she and her daughters would come up to visit us when they were young. She and Earl even came up for my 50th birthday party. I am devistated that my life friend is gone already and that I didn't have a chance to say goodbye. As kids, we spent a great deal of time together; she was an only child and I was an only child until I was 8, and so we spent a great deal of time at each others' homes. Ann & Jack were always so kind to me and I had the good fortune to be invited to go many places with them to keep Eileen company. Eileen was such a lovely, lovely, person ALWAYS. So sweet and kind and just always a pleasure to be with. She was such an avid reader and she was actually responsible for my love of reading. She would pass on her books to me after reading them as teenagers, and encouraged me to read them when I really was not reading much at all. We took tennis lessons together for several summers, went to many movies together and just hung out. She also taught me how to play a number of card games that I still play to this day. We loved playing monopoly...with just the two of us playing, we would have a game going over a period of several days during the summer, set up out on their screened-in patio. She was also responsible for my becoming a "Candy Stripper" volunteer at Presbyterian Hospital. She had become one first and talked me into doing it, which I loved. So much of my childhood was spent with Eileen and I so enjoyed staying friends through most of our adult lives. I'll never forget the call telling me that she and Earl had reconnected and that they were going to get married in New Mexico! And I looked forward to her detailed letters and the latest news from Italy. She loved adventure and travel from a young age. I am so happy she and Earl found each other again and enjoyed a life together. I cannot express with words how very, very sad I am that she died and I did not reach out to her much sooner. My deepest and sincere condolences to Earl, Anna, Colleen, and the rest of her family. I know you must all really miss her. I hope to hear from one of you. Christine Bright Scimia