Eileen E. Leigh

Longtime New Brighton resident, devout Catholic

Eileen Leigh passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

Wake is Saturday, March 31, 2018, from 3 to 7 p.m., at Harmon Funeral Home.

Mass of Christian Burial is Monday at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church.

Eileen was born and raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where she lived until she married her husband Joseph in 1944 during World War II. While Joe was serving in the Philippines, Eileen lived in the Bronx. They moved to Staten Island in 1947 to start and raise a family. She lived the remainder of her life in their New Brighton home, where they raised their five children.

Eileen was an active member of her community and St. Paul's parish. She was a den mother for 12 years with Pack 52, as all of her boys moved through Cub Scouts. Eileen was a president of the presentation guild at St. Paul's school, and an annual volunteer with the Cardinal's Appeal, going door to door in the neighborhood soliciting donations for the parish and archdiocese.

She also managed to hold part-time jobs at the SI Unitarian Church and on the NYC Board of Elections for many years.

She was predeceased by her husband 13 years ago to the day.

She was also a "prayer giant," making sure all of her children had a Catholic education and upbringing and learned to pray the family rosary. She prayed with Mother Angelica daily on EWTN, and read Catholic New York weekly.

Eileen is survived by her children, David and his wife, Nikki, Kathy, Kenneth and his wife, Deborah, Douglas and his wife, Cheryl, and Kerry and her partner, James Lane; six grandsons, Sean and Evan Garcen, Christopher Leigh, Mark Johnson and his wife, Melissa, Michael Modzelewski, Andrew Leigh and his wife, Jenna; and her granddaughter, Elizabeth Leigh.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Carmel Richmond Nursing Home would be appreciated.