Eileen Hannagan Walsh

Eileen Hannagan Walsh, a resident of Grasonville, MD, died February 22, 2012. She was 84 years old. Eileen was born in Lawrence, MA, on March 29, 1927. She was one of three children of Joseph and Rose Hannagan. She was educated in Lawrence, MA, and a Mount St. Mary’s Academy in New Hampshire. After graduation, she worked at the Lawrence Gas Company in Lawrence, MA. She eventually met and married the love of her life, Joseph Patrick Walsh, also from Lawrence. They were married for sixty years until his death in 2010. Together, Eileen and her husband, Joe, had four children. Joe was employed as an engineer for General Electric and that career brought the family to several different locations around the country and Europe. During this period of her life, Eileen spent most of her time as a homemaker providing what her children describe as a perfect “Leave it to Beaver” childhood for all of them. Every summer the family would pack up and go someplace fun in their pop-up camper. As the children grew older, Eileen had a very successful real estate career for several years. She enjoyed doing crafts, sewing, gardening, and quilting, but mostly just being with her family. While living in Charlottesville, VA, her gardens were often featured on annual garden tours. After the kids were grown and they retired, Eileen and Joe traveled around the country in their motor home for several years. They eventually moved to Grasonville, MD, to be close to their children. Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Patrick Walsh. She is survived by four children: Linda Walsh of Arnold, MD, Joseph Walsh, Jr. of Sarasota, FL, Thomas Walsh of Queenstown, MD, and James Walsh of Suwanee, GA. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Adam Booth of Baltimore, MD, Joseph Walsh, III, of DeKalb, IL, Katie Walsh of Sarasota, FL, Michael Walsh of Sarasota, FL, Thomas Walsh of Yorkville, IL, and Treva Walsh, Brian Walsh and Keith Walsh, all of Suwanee, GA. She is survived by one great-grandchild, Aiden Walsh of Yorkville, IL. She is also survived by her brother, Joseph Hannagan, Jr., of Bristol, NH. Her other sibling died in infancy. She has numerous nieces and nephews. Over the years Eileen raised several dogs and it was often joked in the family that they were more important to her than any of the family members. At the time of her death, she had two pugs, Rocky and Ginger, the other loves of her life. Friends may call at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A. in Chester, MD, on Monday, February 27 from 6 until 8 pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m, on Tuesday, February 28, at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Chester, MD. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Queenstown, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Chesapeake Cats and Dogs, 300A Island Professional Park, Stevensville, MD 21666.

Eileen Hannagan Walsh

March 29, 1927 - February 22, 2012