Eileen R. Scanlon passed away peacefully on May 23, 2024 at Essex Meadows in Essex, CT with her family at her side.

Eileen was born 89 years ago on July 5, 1934, the first of five children, to Bridget (Leonard) and Jeremiah Scanlon.

Eileen began her career with the United States Marine Corps in 1958 and spent most of her service in California at Camp Pendleton. Upon retiring in 1981, Eileen returned to Viginia where she had previously spent many years at Headquarters MC in Washington D.C.

Among her most treasured things in life were her family, her faith, her love of music and singing with the "Mosaic Music" choral group.  Her other most treasured thing was the Marine Corps.  Eileen's love of justice and equality is unsurpassed. She was always looking out for her "troopies" and would never back down, advocating for what was right.

Her sense of humor and strength are among the many qualities that those blessed to have known her speak the most highly of.  She had a way of instilling strength into you. Whether you were at your lowest or your highest, Eileen could help you see the world in a better light.  And Eileen and Sue together were a force to be reckoned with. There isn't a person they crossed paths with who doesn't sing their praises.

Her family and friends mourn the loss of such a kind, loving and truly powerful woman.  They also celebrate her peace, after a long and wonderful life.  And they honor her as she enters our Lord's embrace and is reunited with so many loved ones that passed before her, including her parents; her brother: Fr. Tom Scanlon; sisters: M. Geraldine Gargan and Margaret Hall; and her loving companion of forty years: Sue Sousa.

Eileen is survived by her "baby" sister: Pattie Sainsbury of Middleburgh; her brother-in-law: Tom Hall of Alabama; in addition to her ten nieces and nephews, six great-nieces and nephews and hundreds of sister Marines.

A Funeral Mass will be held for Eileen at 1:00PM on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Main Street, Middleburgh, NY.  Interment will take place at a later date, with Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

Donations in Eileen's honor are requested to the WMA Scholership Fund at https://www.womenmarines.org/product/wma-donation/

or to St. Jude Children's Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/

Coltrain Funeral Home, LLC of Middleburgh, NY is honored to be caring for Eileen's family locally.