February 13, 1938 – June 5, 2018
She was born on February 13, 1938, to John R. and Nora Monahan. At the time of her birth, Eileen’s mother passed away, and John raised her with the help of Eileen’s beloved “Aunt Gena” – Virginia (Monahan) Deignan of Lake Geneva. Later, her father married Louise Clarke, who became her mother in every sense of the word. Louise brought with her son Joe, and John and Louise eventually had a daughter together. It was Eileen’s little sister Martha who dubbed her “Nini”, or simply “Neen” as she has been known ever since. Eileen grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and graduated from Evanston Township High School.
Later, she graduated from Quincy College in Quincy, Illinois, and began teaching English in Chatsworth, Illinois. Eileen loved her career as a teacher, so after taking some years off to raise her family – as well as getting certified to teach Special Education – she taught several places in southern Wisconsin, including Traver, Pell Lake Star Center and Mukwonago, and then ending her career as a Learning Disabilities teacher at Phoenix School in Delavan.
Eileen married Daniel J. O’Sullivan on June 18, 1960, and together in Lake Geneva they raised 3 daughters. They were divorced in 1979, and Daniel passed away in 1982.
Eileen also had a flair for the dramatic – she spent time teaching drama and putting on plays at her schools, as well as appearing in community theater productions. In later years, she was thrilled to be able to share this interest with her grandson Nathan as he pursues a career in the arts. Eileen’s other grandson, Dan, made her happy in so many ways as well. With him, she shared a home as he grew up, as well as a love of animals and technology. She would proudly boast of her personal desktop technician and loved to learn from his computer prowess.
And if you ever got her started talking about the TV show “Survivor”, you’d better be ready for all of the facts. Under the screen moniker “Coolhand Eddie”, she ran an online Fantasy Survivor tribe, and had several trophies to show for her ability to “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast.” She was also a rabid football and baseball fan and tried never to miss a televised game. A Brewer game at Miller Park a couple of years ago, courtesy of her daughter Cathy and son-in-law Tom, was a recent highlight – as (oddly) was the Cubs winning the World Series in 2016.
Eileen loved the outdoors and made her home in a tranquil part of the Kettle Moraine Forest. There she would mow acres of land, feed the birds, help a local feral cat rescue organization, and gaze at the constellations. For as long as she could, she maintained gardens; in a recent conversation with a chaplain, she said that she always felt closest to God when in her flower garden.
Eileen is survived by her daughters: Joann O’Sullivan, Whitewater; Cathy O’Sullivan (Tom) Kavanaugh, Sauk City; and Theresa O’Sullivan Fosbinder (Madison). She is further survived by her grandsons Dan (Alexi) O’Sullivan and Nathan Fosbinder. She also leaves behind several beloved pets who will miss her kindness and kindred spirit – especially her dearest Foggy.
She was preceded in death by her father, John Rodríguez Monahan; her mother, Nora (Liston) Monahan; her stepmother Louise Clarke Monahan; her step-brother Joe (“Sug”) Daniels, and her sister Martha Monahan Jones Bromley.
Whether the Brewers win or the Packers lose, or the Cubs sneak into the rotation, Eddie will forever be watching from her flower garden. We will miss you, Weather Gma.
A Memorial Service will take place on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at 12 pm at Nitardy Funeral Home 550 N. Newcomb St. Whitewater, WI. 53190. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday from 11 am until time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Cat Inc., P.O. Box 447 Whitewater, WI 53190 – commcat.org, or ActBlue LLC – www.actblue.com.
