Eileen Marie. (McCarty) Light

Eileen was born on November 15, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan to Luke and Marie McCarty. After graduating from St. Mary’s High School in Royal Oak, Michigan, Eileen answered the call to support the U.S. war effort by entering the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps at the age of 18. She completed her nursing studies in 1947, graduating cum laude with a diploma in nursing from Mercy College in Pontiac, Michigan. As the war was winding down when she received her nursing license, Eileen was never assigned to active duty. In 1948 she married George Light who had recently returned from naval service in the Pacific. Over the next fourteen years they welcomed seven children into their family. Eileen and George settled first in Detroit and later in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. In 1966 they moved their family to Houston, Texas, a home base they maintained when George’s work assignments sent them to Sao Paulo, Brazil and Geneva, Switzerland. Eileen resided in Houston from 1966 to 2015 when she moved to San Antonio, TX to live at the Village at Incarnate Word Senior Living Community.

While George worked in the oil business and traveled extensively, Eileen managed the busy world created by a family of nine. Eileen worked as a registered nurse for only one year before she became the full-time manager of the growing Light family, an occupation she loved and at which she was enormously talented. George and Eileen were passionate supporters of education, insisting that each of their children obtain at least a bachelor’s degree. They were also dedicated to their Catholic faith and were active members of their parishes. They were founding members of two parish communities, St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Houston, Texas and St. Mary, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lago Vista, Texas. Throughout her life Eileen volunteered at and supported many Catholic organizations including her parish communities and the Charity Guild of Catholic Women in Houston, Texas. She volunteered as a nurse for the American Red Cross and the San José Clinic in Houston and later when she lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She was a long-time supporter of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston, the alma mater of her five sons and three of her grandsons, where she established an endowed scholarship in honor of her husband, George E. Light. Committed to the issues of women and children, she was a supporter of Covenant House in Houston and Visitation House Ministries in San Antonio.

Eileen is survived by her children: Kathleen Light (San Antonio, TX); Michael Light and wife Daphne (Spicewood, TX); Joseph Light (Houston, TX); Dennis Light and wife Beth (Mansfield, TX); Gregory Light (Frederick, Maryland); Thomas

Light and wife Stacy (Dallas, TX); Patricia Light Antill and husband Donal (Cypress, TX). Her twelve grandchildren: Sean Hampp, Stephanie Light and husband Tony Reynolds; Paul Light and wife Jennifer; Brian Light and wife Amanda; Jason Light and wife Tiffany, Jenny Light; Erin Light Lechene and husband Ulysse; Zachary Light and wife Carrie, Hannah Light and husband Tyler; John Light; Mary Grace Antill, Matthew Antill; and her twelve great-grandchildren. Eileen is also survived by her sister, Mary Agnes Cruse of Traverse City, Michigan, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Eileen is preceded in death by her husband, George Edward Light, her parents, Luke and Marie McCarty, and her siblings Patricia Roache and Fred McCarty.

Eileen had a mantra she repeated to her children each time they left the house: “Remember, you’re a Light”. Eileen never said what she meant by that. When her children were young, they thought it was a way to find your way home if you got lost—just tell someone your name. Sometimes they thought she was reminding them to “stay out of trouble”. But as adults they came to realize that being a Light carried with it certain values and responsibilities which Eileen never wanted forgotten. No one will forget.

A Memorial Mass is scheduled for Friday, September 23, 2022, 10:30 a.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Eileen’s life.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Village at Incarnate Word, the caregivers from Sisters Care, and the staff from VITAS Healthcare for their compassion and dedication to our mother. We extend a most heartfelt thank you to caregiver Mary Saldana for her devotion and love.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eileen’s honor to Sisters Care at The Village at Incarnate Word, 4707 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209. Or online at www.thevillageiw.org Condolences can be sent to www.sunsetfuneralhomesa.com