Eileen B. Franklin

Eileen Brooks Franklin, of Suffolk, Virginia, and formerly of Arlington, Virginia, passed away peacefully with family by her side on July 26, 2026. Born on August 5, 1943, Eileen lived a life defined by her devout Catholic faith, boundless creativity, and a deep love for family.

Eileen was preceded in death by her first husband, Bob; her second husband, Chuck; her mother, Emma; and her sister, Bonnie. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Omohundro; her sons, Michael (Michele) Brooks and Bryan (Janice) Brooks; her cherished grandchildren Ashley Brooks, Robert Tyler Brooks, Rebecca (Anthony) Hasbrouck, and Robert (Lindsay) Rang and great-grandchildren Elijah and Nico Hasbrouck and Hollyce Sumner. Later in life, she found love again and remarried Chuck Franklin, happily welcoming his children; Alex (Reagan) and Nelson (Jamey) and grandchildren; Nick, Sophie, and Anna, into her heart and family as her own, alongside her beloved nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Professionally, Eileen had a successful career as a manager at the C&P Telephone Company, a role she took great pride in. She fondly collected telephones over the years as a nod to her career.

A devoted Catholic who never missed Mass, Eileen lived her faith through action. She volunteered at the convent, helped cater weddings, and faithfully co-chaired the Parish Bereavement Reception committee for years. Her warmth extended to everyone she met, maintaining long time friendships with ladies from church, and building new close relationships with her neighbors through their local bible study group.

A woman of remarkable talents, Eileen was quietly gifted with her hands, always modest about her own abilities. She was a skilled seamstress who handmade clothes and custom Halloween costumes, cross-stitched, and hand-painted china. While she later traded her arts and crafts for adventures on the open road in an Airstream with Chuck, her quiet creativity left a lasting mark. Eileen loved adventure just as much as she loved home, she enjoyed traveling to destinations like Hawaii, Italy, France, and Alaska. She had a fun loving spirit and enjoyed driving her Mustang convertible and listening to Elvis Presley.

Deeply family oriented, Eileen proudly served as a den mother when her boys were young. She raised both sons to have a passion for cooking and to be proud family men themselves. Both Michael and Bryan dutifully cared for their mother themselves in her final days, following Eileen's own example from when she tended to her aging mother before her passing, working alongside her sisters as Emma's main caregivers. Eileen is fondly remembered by her grandchildren as "Nonna", the warm grandmother who made them pizzelles, happily babysat and created fun traditions with them like 'breakfast chocolate' and 'cowboy camping', as well as thoughtfully sending a card for every single holiday.

Eileen leaves behind a legacy of pure love and cherished memories that will live on forever in all who knew her.

In Suffolk, the family will receive friends from 5 to 6:30 pm on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, 2690 Bridge Rd. Suffolk.

In Arlington, Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 5 to 7p at Murphys Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, 3901 Cathedral Lane, Arlington, VA. Burial to follow at National Memorial Park, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church.

Donations may be made to Trinity Hospice, 860 Greenbrier Circle, Suite 103, Chesapeake, VA 23320.