Eileen Mary Twomey died August 13, 2018 at Wingate Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Brewster, MA. Eileen was born in County Kerry, Ireland on February 5, 1932, and was the fourth and youngest child of her adoring and adored parents, John and Nellie (Murphy) Twomey. The family immigrated to the United States when she was two years old, and resided in Reading and Plum Island, Massachusetts.
Eileen graduated from Tufts University (Jackson College) and received a Master’s degree in elementary education from Boston University. She was an elementary school teacher and reading specialist for many decades, in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio and finally in the San Francisco Bay area. After spending a few years post-retirement in Boise, Idaho, she returned to Massachusetts, which was always “home” to her.
Eileen loved music, especially female jazz vocalists, was an old movie aficionada and a voracious reader, and had a delightful and somewhat impish sense of humor. Although she never had children herself, she had a fine appreciation of children’s literature and amassed an impressive collection of children’s books, which is among her most lasting legacies to her nieces and nephews. The guiding force in Eileen’s life was her abiding faith and trust in God, to whom she is now gratefully returned.
In addition to her parents, Eileen was predeceased by her brother, Michael Twomey, and sisters, Joan Ivers (Jack) and Peggy Jones (Dick). She is survived by her sister-in-law, Maria Twomey, of Boise, and her nieces and nephews (to whom she was lovingly known as “Auntie Dee”), Jane Elizabeth Jones (Stan Cygelman) of Winchester, MA, Susan P. Jones of East Harwich, MA, Richard Jones (Anne) of Louisville, Kentucky, Elizabeth Ivers of Harwich, MA, John Ivers of New York, and Eileen Ursillo (Pepi) and Celita Twomey, of Boise, and her cousin, Veronica Lee, of Reading, MA, and many other cousins and great nieces and nephews. She was immensely proud of and cherished her extended family, and will be greatly and forever missed by each of them.
A burial will take place at the St. Mary's Cemetery, Newburyport, MA on August 23, 2018 at 11:00 a.m., and a memorial Mass will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eileen’s memory to the Holy Redeemer Church in Chatham, MA. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.
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