Eileen was born in Ft. Wayne, IN, on August 26, 1939, to the late Thomas and Mildred Haley. She moved to South Bend, IN after attending school and worked at Mercedes-Benz as an Administrative Assistant. She met her husband, Bob, who was attending the University of Notre Dame while she was living in South Bend.
They married on February 4, 1961, and moved to Mansfield, OH, where Bob was a paint chemist.
They were in Mansfield for a few years and then moved to Centerville, IN, where she and Bob made dozens of lifetime friends. After Bob died in 1990, Eileen moved to Carmel, IN where she lived for over 30 years. Eileen worked at RCI in Indianapolis as the Benefits Coordinator for many years and enjoyed retirement afterwards.
Eileen loved her family first and Notre Dame was a close second. All 4 of her children attended Notre Dame or Saint Mary's College (across the street from ND), and she and Bob spent many Fall weekends throwing tailgaters for their kids and friends at Notre Dame. She was thrilled that one of her grandchildren, Bridget, currently attends Notre Dame.
Although 3 of her children, 7 of her grandchildren and one great-grandchild lives in Oregon, she loved to talk to them, but especially loved having them visit. She was thrilled to meet her first great-grandchild, Declan, this past Spring. She loved to show everyone who visited her all the family pictures.
Along with Eileen’s children, Robert Burtzlaff, Jr, Karen Burtzlaff Corken, Kristin Burtzlaff Bodey, Patrick Burtzlaff, and grandchildren, she is also survived by her sister, Margaret Haley Prideaux, and nieces, Nicole Mastej Montroy and Diana Mastej Cooper. In addition to her husband and parents, Eileen was preceded in death by her sister, Polly Haley Mastej and brother, Tom Haley.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 2, 2026, from 10 AM – 11 AM at Leppert Mortuary – Carmel Chapel, 900 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, Indiana with a funeral service to follow at 11 AM.
Contributions in Eileen’s memory may be made to: Washington Township Special Olympics (WTSO), PO Box 40734, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.leppertmortuary.com.
