Eileen Mary Smith passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 19th at the age of 80, surrounded by family. She will be remembered for her independent spirit, keen intellect, great faith and unfailing generosity.
Born in Woodside, NY in 1944, the second child of Philip C. and Helen Brennan Smith, she grew up in the Boulevard Gardens with her four siblings, Frances A. (Otto) Haug, Mary Ellen Smith, Philip J. Smith (Magdalena) and Claire Smith (Joseph) Furlong. Eileen attended grammar school at St. Joseph’s in Astoria where she made lifelong friends and began a habit of excelling in her studies, which she continued at St. Agnes Academic High School, St. John’s (B.A. 1965, J.D. 1986) and Loyola University Chicago (M.A. 1968). She spent many years as a Citibank employee before returning to her initial career in education and spending over 20 years as a NYC school teacher in Queens.
Eileen was absolutely adored by her nieces and nephews, Katherine (Kevin) Meskell, Jennifer (Jack) Perrin, and Claire (Armando) Ponce; Christopher (Jessica) and Kieran (Erin) Smith; and Helen Smith (Joseba Picanza). She also had eleven grand-nieces and nephews that brought her a great deal of joy in her later years.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Mary Ellen, her brother Philip, and her beloved niece, Elizabeth C. Furlong.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering (Manhattan) or St. Joseph’s Church (Astoria) in her memory.
