Eileen Hancox

Eileen Hancox, age 84, passed away at Glenaire Healthcare in Cary, North Carolina on February 9, 2024. Born on April 27, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; she was the daughter of the late Miles Cassidy and Blanche Lynch Cassidy.

Eileen, a woman of varied talents and boundless energy, embraced life with gusto. She enjoyed a successful stint as a flight attendant, allowing her to indulge her love of travel and connect with people from all corners of the globe. Later, she transitioned to roles in sales and human resources, where her knack for connecting authentically shone brightly.

But Eileen's true passions lay beyond the professional realm. Driven by a deep sense of compassion and a desire to make a difference, she dedicated significant time to volunteer work. Her service with the Peace Corps in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco stands as a testament to her adventurous spirit and commitment to cultural understanding. Upon returning, she continued to be a champion for marginalized communities, volunteering with immigrants and tirelessly advocating for autism research and support services. She founded a support group for grandparents that focused on how they could mobilize to support their grandkids on the spectrum! Her fundraising efforts and unwavering dedication brought hope and assistance to countless individuals and families touched by autism.

Beyond her professional and volunteer pursuits, Eileen nurtured a lifelong passion for adventure. She was a pilot, hiker, and traveler who loved to learn and experience other cultures. Throughout her life, she embarked on countless journeys, exploring new cultures and countries like India, Egypt, Turkey, Ireland. Generally speaking any question that started “do you want to visit…” was interrupted with a “YEP!” from Eileen. She was game.

Eileen will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, and just being all around fun. Life didn’t get much past her!

She is survived by her children: Matthew Hancox and wife Shelley Scruggs Hancox, of Wake Forest, NC. Joseph Vassallo and Mary Cook Vassallo of Sanatoga, PA. Grandchildren Joseph Vassallo, Vincent Vassallo, Nicole Vassallo, Miles Hancox, Sadie Hancox. Great Grandchildren, Ava Vassallo, Joey Vassallo, Kaylee Vassallo, Rylie Vassallo

A celebration of life gathering was held at Glenaire Retirement Community in Cary, North Carolina on Tuesday, February 13th at 4PM.

A true “Happy Hour” Reception to Celebrate Eileen’s Life will be held on Saturday, February 24th from 3-5 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh (UUFR) Fellowship Hall - 3313 Wade Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Eileen’s memory may be made to the Autism Society of North Carolina.

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