Obituary of Eileen Rose Eaves

“Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.” Our precious mother, Eileen Rose Monica Foley Eaves, went to that great golf course in the sky on Tuesday Morning, August 10, 2021. She received one of her fondest wishes when she passed in her home of 62 years immersed in the love and devotion of her children. A hero to all who knew her, she raised nine kids by herself with discernment and wit, choosing adventure and delight where others may have found insurmountable burdens. In her golden years, she roamed the world from such enchanted destinations as the green isles of Ireland, to Torremolinos, Spain, and two trips to Machu Picchu in Peru (in her 80’s!). She was a rare spirit who was a gift and a blessing to all whom she touched. Although we wept at her passing, Heaven welcomed her joyous spirit with open arms and a putter. Eileen was born in June of 1923 to a large Irish Catholic family in Wabasha, MN, the sixth of 10 children. She followed her sisters Mary and Cack to St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul and thereafter was known as ‘Sis’. So proud of her Irish roots and family, she always excused her children from school on St. Patrick’s day to attend the parade in St. Paul. She was embedded in all her children’s families. Upon retirement from Ramsey County as a Child Support Investigator, she balanced her life between grandkids, reading, travel, Katie class of 1945 lunches, golf (playing until she was 92) and volunteer work at her church, St. Jeromes. Often reading 5 books at a time, she would state (with a wink in her eye) that her favorite subject was good-looking dependable men. Her cherished traits were a razor sharp Irish wit, a generosity of spirit, a love of adventure and unconditional love and patience for her family and friends. Talking about her Mother one day, she wondered “how did she do it, raise all those kids?” When asked “How did you do it? You answer that question”, she replied “I just kept going.” And she did. And we will. With hearts overflowing with gratitude and love. We hold her in our hearts, now and always; our witty, smart, fun and most amazing Mother. Eileen was preceded in death by her former husband Robert Paul Eaves, his mother Blanche Marie Schumacher Eaves, her son John Patrick Eaves, her parents John Robert ‘J.R.’ Foley and Ellen “Nellie” Brennan Foley. She was also predeceased by infant brother Francis Patrick Foley of Wabasha, MN; sister Ellen Mary Ferron of Arlington, Va., dietician; brother Congressman John ‘Jack’ Robert Foley of Silver Spring, Md.; brother Lt. Col. Robert ‘Bob’ Langdon Foley of Mendota Heights, Air Force pilot, and B29 reconnaissance squadron commander and his wife, Sis’ best friend, Margaret ‘Margie’ Bishop Foley; sister Catherine Langdon Foley Quigley of Woodbury, MN, chemist and poet; brother Judge Daniel Francis Foley, Minnesota State Court of Appeals Judge and National Commander of the American Legion; brother Judge Patrick Joseph Foley of Tampa, FL, Former Federal Administrative Law Judge and U.S. Attorney in MN; brother Eugene ‘Gene’ Patrick Foley of Washington, D.C., President Kennedy’s former national administrator of the Small Business Administration and President Johnson’s Special Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development; and sister Roseleen Miller of Rice Lake, WI, special education teacher; her siblings’ spouses, niece Susan Kathleen Ferron, niece Monica Anna-Catherine Wicks and nephew Patrick Eugene Foley. Eileen is survived by sons Paul (Kathi Rickert), Peter, Michael, Bill; daughters Kathi Ryks (Dan), Patricia (Stuart Alger), Mary Thompson (Rick), Kelly Trygg (Brian), daughter-in-law Linda Randy Eaves; 20 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. Catholic Mass at St. Felix church and interment at St. Felix cemetery in Wabasha, MN in 2022. Eileen generously donated toward the treatment and cure of diabetes, arthritis and leukemia/lymphoma. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to those charities, St. Jerome’s Catholic church of Maplewood or the Foley Ferron Canes scholarship fund at the Office of Development, University of Saint Catherine’s, 2004 Randolph Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105. Services provided by Willwerscheid Funeral Home & Cremation Catholic Mass at St. Felix church and interment at St. Felix cemetery in Wabasha, MN in 2022.