Eileen Reilly Potocnak

Eileen Marie Reilly Potocnak, 83 1/2, of Kearneysville, WV, formerly of Arlington, VA, Silver Spring, MD, Philadelphia, PA and Sea Isle City, NJ (almost each and every summer of her life), passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, February 12, 2023 following a long, courageous battle with Congestive Heart Failure and COPD. Mrs. Potocnak was born in Philadelphia, PA on 8/1/1939, the second of five children born to the late Theresa McNulty Reilly and Joseph Reilly. She grew up in Pennypack, was a member of St. Dominic Parish and graduated from the St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls. Eileen's life irrevocably changed when she was 19 at a wedding in 1959 when she met her soul mate, John Joseph Potocnak, III; she was a bridesmaid and he was a groomsman. They were married on May 21st, 1960. That happy union lasted 47 years until he passed away on 6/27/2007. She is survived by her children: her daughter Eileen Potocnak Arnold and her son-in-law David Arnold, her daughter Jennifer Potocnak and her son-in-law Dr. Martin Sulsky, her son Jonathan Potocnak and her daughter-in-law Ann Ellis Potocnak. She is also survived by the loves of her life, her two granddaughters; Kathleen Arnold and Cadet Aeryn Potocnak, United States Army, ROTC. Each one brought her, in her words, "Indescribable Joy."

Mrs. Potocnak and her family moved from Philadelphia to Silver Spring, MD in 1966 where she became very active in Washington Metropolitan Area Community Theater; the Kensington-Garrett Players, the Montgomery Playhouse, the Silver Spring Stage amongst others, and in that capacity Mrs. Potocnak was an award winning actress, director and stage manager. Mrs. Potocnak also taught acting and theater to inner-city children. She moved to Arlington, VA in 2005 with her late husband John and became very active in her parish, Our Lady of Lourdes; teaching Sunday School (CCD), being an active member of the Legion of Mary, becoming a Eucharistic Minister, often leading the Rosary at the weekday Noon Mass and ministering to those in a local nursing home before her health declined. In 2021 following a mild stroke, she moved in with her daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Martin and moved with them when they retired to West Virginia in 2022. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Potocnak was pre-deceased by her older sister Theresa Reilly Comerford and her brother-in-law (and late husband's best friend) Joseph Comerford, her younger brother Lt. Colonel Michael W. Reilly, USMC Ret., her sister-in-law Annemae Brogan and her brother-in-law Andrew Brogan and nephew-in-law Robert Sabo, her sister-in-law Elizabeth (Betty) Fagan and her brother-in-law Eugene (Gene) Fagan and her nephew Danny Fagan and her brother-in-law Captain James (Jimmy) Potocnak, Philadelphia Police Department, Ret.

Mrs. Potocnak is also survived by her brother Joseph J. Reilly, Special Agent of the FBI, Ret. and sister-in-law Sharon Reilly and by her brother John Reilly and sister-in-law Barbara Reilly and by her sister-in-law Carol A. Reilly, her brother-in-law Bishop Joseph Potocnak, SCJ and by Jimmy Potocnak's 'Best Girl' Anita Fahringer and by her best friend of over 50 years Jill Redding and by her former sister-in-law Ann Reilly and her former sister-in-law Carolyn Reilly.

Mrs. Potocnak is also survived by her many nieces and nephews; Joseph and Christine Comerford, Kevin Comerford, Thomas and Christie Comerford and Noreen Comerford, Danielle and Shawn Weed, Katie and Troy Saylor, Christina Reilly-Fazzina and Carl Fazzina, Valerie Reilly Metzker, Colleen Reilly and Bryan Glickman, Lori and Ken Fox, John and Alysia Reilly and Andrea Reilly. Paul Fagan, Nan Fagan, Eugene Fagan Jr., John Fagan, Joseph Fagan, Barbara and Bradley Rudy. Andrew Brogan, Mark Brogan, Amy Sabo, Emily and Tony Grigal, Joseph and Carla Brogan.

And she is also survived by 33 great nieces and nephews, 2 great, great nieces, 2 great, great nephews (and one on the way) and many, many Irish Catholic cousins, other relatives and friends.

Eileen was known as a happy, loving, affectionate, funny, joyful ray of sunshine who made everyone's life better by simply being in it. She always, always forgave everyone their trespasses and was a great, empathetic listener. She was amazingly generous and thoughtful and she really enjoyed her life and felt lucky and blessed. Eileen was greatly loved and admired.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, 830 23rd Street S. Arlington, VA 22202 on Saturday February 18th, 2023 at 2:00 pm. The family will greet mourners beginning at 1:00 pm at the church until Mass begins. Mrs. Potocnak will be interred with her late husband at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Donations may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes (see above) in her memory. Eileen was always grateful and humbled when people prayed for her, so the family asks for you to please pray for the repose of her soul.