Obituary of Eileen C. Slattery

Eileen Slattery was born in Bronx, New York in 1924 and died at home in New Canaan, Connecticut on Monday, June 7, 2021. She was 97 years old and had dementia for several years.

Eileen was surrounded by her children, grandchildren and her beloved cat, during the last days of her life.  Her wonderful aide, Jossett Tomlinson, was also at her side.

Eileen is survived by three of her four children, Melissa Slattery of Norwalk, CT; Patricia Ochs and husband Jerome of Bethel, CT; Ann Chester and husband Douglas of Ridgefield, CT; and her beloved niece, Mary Margaret of Somers, NY. Her grandsons Dillon, Kyle, Trevor, Ryan and Haoxie will all miss her dearly.

She is pre-deceased by her husband of 58 years, Walter, and by her son, James Patrick.

Eileen was a Mom and homemaker first and foremost. When not raising her children or caring for her grandsons, she also had a career as a secretary, starting first at the Pennsylvania Railroad, where her father was an executive. She then moved on to the Sperry Corporation in New York City, where she worked in the same building that housed  the fledgling United Nations. She had fond memories of the people she met from all over the world, at lunch time in the building cafeteria. Eileen was a true New Yorker who enjoyed concerts, ballets, theater and the museums in her single days as a young career woman.

Eileen retired from the Perkin Elmer Corporation in Wilton, CT, after working as a legal secretary in the patent department for nearly a decade.

Eileen was married to Walter for 58 years. After she cared for him at the end of his life, in their home for 3.5 years, she visited him every day, but for one snow day, to have lunch with him at Waveny Care Center. The New Canaan Getabout was her lifeline to Walter.

Eileen loved to read and served as a Library Mother at St Aloysius School, when her kids were attending. She loved to garden, and treasured her bearded irises, hydrangeas and hostas.

Her most favorite pastime was visiting local thrift shops. She rarely passed a local tag sale without stopping in to see if there were any bargains.

Her family will hold a tag sale in her honor in the weeks ahead. There will be lots of bargains in her honor.

Eileen was a fun Mom who taught her kids the value of a good sense of humor. She enjoyed a good laugh mostly every day. Perhaps this is the key to her longevity. Dementia did not diminish her laughter though she suffered from missing her favorite sister, Mary, whom she dearly loved. Eileen was a devout Catholic and attended Mass for most of her life. She was particularly grateful to the lay parishioners of St. Aloysius, who visited her at home to offer the Sacrament of Holy Communion every Friday morning.

Above all, Eileen had undying loyalty to her family. No matter what, we all knew she loved us “to pieces,” without a doubt. Her arms were always wide open for a hug. She will be deeply missed and remembered always with great love & affection.

A private Memorial Mass was held at St. Aloysius.  Donations to the New Canaan Getabout, in Eileen’s name, are suggested.