Southington Obituary: Eileen Gleason, 85

Eileen C. (Culkin) Gleason, 85, a communicant at Sacred Heart Church in Suffield, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Palm Coast, FL, entered into her eternal rest on August 3, 2017 at the Hebrew Center for Health & Rehabilitation in West Hartford, with her three sons present. She has been reunited with her loving husband, Joseph J. Gleason, who received his eternal rest on October 15, 2010 and her adoring son, Thomas E. Gleason, who passed away on December 25, 2016.

Eileen is survived by her sons, Joseph P. Gleason of Orlando, FL, his wife Yillian and her son Nicholas; Daniel J. Gleason of Suffield, his wife Karen and their four children, Catherine, Joseph, Peter and Daniel; James E. Gleason of Wethersfield, his wife Michelle and their daughters Cheryl and Elizabeth.

Eileen is the daughter of George and Minnie (Keisel) Culkin and is also the stepdaughter of John H. Schmitt. Eileen was born in Manhattan, NYC, and graduated Cathedral High School on 560 Lexington Ave, NYC. After graduation, Eileen went on to work as an administrative assistant for Malcus Tools, a Swedish company, which gave her the opportunity to travel on occasion to Sweden.

During her vacations to the New Jersey Shore, she met her faithful husband, Joseph Gleason. They married in 1959 and settled down in Farmingdale, LI, NY to raise their family. Mom spent many years as a homemaker caring for her four sons, but once they were all of school age, she returned to work as a clerk at Play World of Plainview, NY.

In 1979, her husband’s work brought the family to Southington. Eileen continued to work during this time as a clerk and found employment at Appell Drug, a pharmacy in Plainville. Upon retiring, Eileen and Joseph relocated to Palm Coast, FL, where they spent many happy years with family and friends.

After Joseph's death, Eileen spent the remainder of her years with her son Daniel and his family at their home in Suffield. All along the way, be it in Farmingdale, NY, Southington, Palm Coast, FL or Suffield, Eileen made lifelong friends. Particularly close and dear to her were MaryAnn Lamson of both Southington and Palm Coast, FL, Joan Moore of Massapequa, NY and Rosalie Capitini of Seaford, NY. Additionally, the family would like to knowledge the love and care Eileen received from her personal home health aide, Jen, the staff at Felician Adult Day Center in Enfield and the staff at the Hebrew Center in West Hartford.

Eileen faced the many challenges she had later in life, as she always did, with the utmost courage and dignity and those that supported her in those efforts will always be remembered fondly.

Eileen’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 12th at 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church 446 Mountain Rd, Suffield. Relatives and friends may also call on Friday evening from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East Street North, Suffield. Burial will follow Mass at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, 139 South End Rd., Southington.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Felician Adult Day Center, 1315 Enfield St., Enfield CT 06082.