Mary Eileen (Keegan) Sterling passed away peacefully at home on her 95th birthday on January 31, 2017, surrounded by her children. She joins our dad, Michael James (Jim), her parents, Francis and Mary Keegan and her sister Gertrude. She is survived by her nine children, Joanne, Suzanne, Michael (Sharon), Mark (Michelle), Mary Anne, Tim (Faith), Trish, Jennifer (Neville) and Trina. In addition to her brothers John, William and Pat who will miss her. She dearly loved 15 grandchildren, 14 (and one on the way) great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and other family and friends. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Nursing School in Phoenix in 1943 and was a nurse to the very end. She was kind, generous, fiercely loyal and smart; she was fun-loving, and graceful had a brilliant wit and lived a long and beautiful life on her terms never failing to fight in a quiet way for social justice and human rights. The heart and soul of our family, our mom’s legacy is rich and deep; she gave us so many gifts: music, education, tolerance, humility and self-respect. We will all miss her beautiful smile, her wisdom and those blue eyes. A celebration of her life will be held 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central Avenue, in Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations to St. Vincent DePaul or Hospice of the Valley. Arrangements entrusted to Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home.
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Tom Wilson
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m also sorry that I didn’t have an opportunity to know Eileen, although I do know Jenny and Trish. One can tell a lot about someone from the children they raise and I can see and appreciate Eileen’s passion and kindness in the faces of her daughters that I do know. I consider myself very fortunate in that regard.
May God continue to bless and comfort you all…
🙂
-tom
Dr. Lisa L. Connolly and Family
Losing a loved parent is painful, but also brings the chance to reflect on the memories and life lessons learned. I wish for you that each of you take the time to grieve and celebrate and repeat. No one celebration is ever enough. Take the quiet moments to acknowledge your feelings and know that there are many people around you who value and respect you and would do most anything to help ease the pain. Please ask. Prayers and blessings to each person blessed by Eileen’s kindness. Her memory lives on in each person she touched.
Malcolm Abrams
Jenny and I were so sad to hear of your mother’s passing. Eileen was a pistol and we had a lot of fun with her on the occasions we got to be around her in Bloomington.
I know how you and your sisters doted on her and how much you are going to miss her. Still, 95 is a pretty good run and she had a great family who really loved her and looked after her.
With much love,
Jenny and Mal
Darby McCarty
Jenny,
I am sorry you have lost your Mother. I would say never having met her that she truly did have a great run and I feel she was very proud of all her children.
Darby
Sandy Howarth
Condolences and keeping you family in my thoughts and prayers.
Ingrid and Robin
I am so sorry for your loss. What an amazing woman Mary Eileen was! Sending loving thoughts to all the family and know she will be dearly missed, but fondly remembered in your hearts. Big hug to you all.