Eileen Halpin Monteil

Eileen Halpin Monteil, age 95, of Lee’s Summit, MO died peacefully in her sleep on November 5, 2025. Eileen was born in Kansas City, MO on September 17, 1930, to Joseph G. Halpin and Rosetta Catherine Halpin. Eileen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul Monteil, Jr.; daughter, Rita Monteil; son, Joe Monteil; sister, Mary Catherine Hale; and brother, Joe Halpin. She is survived by her children and spouses: Marilyn Bernard (Marc) of Mitchell, SD, Patty Monteil-Mendicino (John) of Warson Woods, MO, Paul Monteil III (Chris Hernandez) of Kansas City, Katie Monteil (John Carroll) of Hong Kong, and Jim Monteil (Shelley) of Lee’s Summit. She is also survived by her grandchildren Brianna and Paul Bernard, Abby and Riley Monteil, and Emma Carroll-Monteil, and her nieces and nephew.

Eileen truly believed she lived a wonderfully blessed life. Years ago, she wrote, “I have always felt that God has spoiled me all my life.”

She was devoted to raising her seven children. They packed into the station wagon for lake weekends filled with sunshine, rowboat rides, and waterskiing. She achieved her goal of becoming the oldest Monteil to walk up the lake hill at age 92.

Eileen never met a stranger. She loved to chat, and we can just imagine the scene at St. Peter’s gate, when Eileen started telling him about her children, and her bridge game, and asking about his hobbies. She was a practical woman with a wry sense of humor.... even getting laughs from us in her final days.

Her storytelling always tied back to her connections to family, lifelong friends, neighbors, and parishioners. She was a longtime parishioner at St. John Francis Regis Church, where she also worked and volunteered for many years, especially in the school of religion program.

She loved playing bridge with her friends, and lake weekends with the family always included a game of “Chickenfoot” (dominoes) after the sunset boat ride. Eileen ran every day from the age of 45-65, winning her age group a couple of times in the Hospital Hill race in the 1980’s.

Eileen would often tell the story of how she first spotted the love of her life - “cute little Paul Monteil” on the Rockhurst high school baseball field when she was still in grade school at St. Francis Xavier, before meeting him years later. They shared a loving marriage for 65 years. Paul was a history teacher and Hall of Fame football coach at De La Salle and Archbishop O’Hara high schools, winning a 3A state championship in 1980, with Eileen by his side every step of the way, cheering from the stands and hosting football parties after the games. She was even named to the Archbishop O’Hara Hall of Fame.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. John Francis Regis Church or Missouri Special Olympics.

Visitation will be Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church, 8941 James A. Reed Road, Kansas City, MO 64138. Her burial will follow in Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Raytown, MO.