Eileen Mary Kalencki

Eileen Mary Kalencki, 77, of New Bern, North Carolina left this temporary earthly home and joined her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in eternal Glory on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Eileen was born on November 11, 1948, in Arlington, Virginia to the late John Doyle and Eileen Emmert Doyle. If you were to ask Eileen what her favorite hobbies were, she may have been at a loss for words because the truth is, she very rarely spent time in pursuit of traditional things to which people dedicate their time. From the time she was a young child looking out for her six younger siblings to the many years in which she raised her own three precious children, her entire life was devoted to loving the people around her and helping them to feel seen, cherished, and known.

She loved to tell the story of the night she met her Dave, her beloved husband of over 55 years, at a get-together with mutual friends on June 9, 1965. From the start of their courtship, it was clear that the Lord had meant for them to be together. Eileen may have had some influence as well considering she suggested all the ladies form a human chain to keep the guys from leaving the party! The rest, as they say, is history. Dave was immediately smitten and made it his mission to bring Eileen various treats, flowers, and gifts throughout her three years at Cooley Dickinson School of Nursing. Shortly after her graduation as a Registered Nurse from the nursing program, they were married on October 17, 1970 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Throughout the years of her life, Eileen relied on the promises of God’s Word and poured herself into following her Savior while sacrificially loving her husband, her children, and her grandchildren. Those privileged to know her well knew that, in the early morning hours, she could be found sitting at her kitchen table with a hot cup of tea, notebooks strewn about, studying the pages of Scripture. In addition to seeking after the Lord, nothing made her happier than her family all around. A close second was sitting on the beach with her toes in the sand and family by her side on the beautiful shores of Maine. She never missed an event in the lives of her children or grandchildren whether it was on the baseball field, the basketball court, or the theater stage. Ever the nurturer, Eileen was Mom and Grammy to her own, but she also made many others feel as if they were her own.

Thankful for her life and continuing in her memory are her beloved husband David Robert Kalencki, children Sharon Klosterman and her husband Jason, Matthew Kalencki and his wife Meghan, and Mary Beth Bowen and her husband Jonathan. Eileen will forever be the greatest Grammy in the world and greatly missed by Emma, Eric (and wife Kenzie), Ryan, Declan, Vivien, and Hannah.

A service to celebrate Eileen's life will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 11:00 am at Cotten Funeral Home Chapel. The service will conclude with nursing honors to commemorate her years of dedicated service. A reception will follow the service.

Online condolences can be made to the family by visiting www.cottenfuneralhome.com. Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the family and friends of Eileen Mary Kalencki.