EILISH P. REESE (nee O’LEARY), age 79, of Middleburg Heights, Ohio passed away peacefully in Holy Family Hospice on Friday, September 4th, 2026. Eilish was predeceased by her husband Gilbert with whom she shared 36 years of devoted and deeply happy marriage. Daughter of the late Denis and Elizabeth O’Leary, sister of the late Christy O’Leary and sister-in-law of the late John Deasy and Peg O’Leary, Aunt of the late Anna and William Deasy. Eilish is survived by her brother Donal, sister Mairead, nephews, nieces, cousins (in particular Sr Elizabeth Sheehan, Sr Elizabeth Cooper and Nora Cooper), grandnephews and grandnieces. She is further survived by her stepchildren Cynthia Holway, Chris Reese, Charlene Rusnak, Curt Reese, Catherine Thauvette their children, and grandchildren.
Eilish was born into a loving farm home in Dromadeesart, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland. She left Ireland in 1961 to move to Cleveland where she became a member of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word for several years. She obtained a master’s degree in education from Baldwin Wallace College, and her dedicated teaching career was spent in both the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and Cleveland Public Schools. Her interests included enjoying time with family and friends, volunteering, travel, gardening, reading and puzzles. Her legacy will be warmth and strength that she left deep in the lives of everyone who loved her of all ages.
For anyone wishing to honor Eilish’s memory with a charitable donation, the family gratefully requests that you consider the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Holy Family Hospice in Parma, Ohio.
Family and friends will be received from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 12th, 2026, at Mary Queen of the Apostles Church, 6455 Engle Rd., Cleveland, Ohio. A mass will follow at 10:00 a.m. (EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Interment Sunset Memorial Park. Arrangements entrusted to the A. RIPEPI & SONS’ FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY RD., MIDDLEBURG HTS., OH 44130 (WEST OF I-71).
