Eileen Patricia KEENA
(née Keegan)

KEENA: Eileen Patricia (nee Keegan) of Kilkenny West, Athlone, Co. Westmeath) passed peacefully on 24th October 2024, aged 92 years. Much loved wife of the late Brian Joseph Keena, and mother of Denise Keena-Ross and Trevor Keena, mother-in-law of Jeff Ross and Kate Keena, and grandmother of Briana, Charlotte, Olivia, Patrick, Emma and Victoria.

 

Eileen was born in Kilkenny West, Athlone, in the centre of Ireland,in 1932. The youngest of seven daughters and three sons, Eileen was lucky to be born on a farm with fresh, plentiful food during the 1930s depression years. Sadly, Eileen’s father died when she was 10, but she had a clear memory of him announcing “War is declared” in 1939. He was a gentle man who played the violin and was always very interested in current affairs.

 

Eileen was an excellent student, learning all subjects in both English and Irish languages. She attended private secretarial college in Athlone, learning shorthand and typing, and cycled nine miles each way, often in the rain!

 

After working in Athlone for a few years, Eileen moved to London and worked at the Dorchester Hotel, witnessing VIPs such as Elizabeth Taylor, the Shah of Iran and royalty visiting as guests. After marrying Brian Keena in 1955 in Notting Hill, Eileen had two children, Denise and Trevor. The family moved to Wembley in 1963, where she lived for over 50 years, until moving to Cranleigh, to be near Trevor, in 2013.

 

Brian and Eileen loved entertaining family and friends, ballroom dancing and travelling. They danced most weekends in the local parish social club and were active members of St Joseph’s Parish. As Trevor worked for British Airways and Denise had moved to New York, travelling became part of their lives. Eileen visited all parts of the British Isles, France, Italy, Poland, Tunisia, Tenerife, Mauritius and many states in the USA. She particularly loved the energy in New York and travelled by herself on the subway to get around in the 1990s. Eileen was often approached, when travelling, by strangers who thought she was Margaret Thatcher!

 

Eileen was deeply moved when visiting Wadowice, the home of Pope John Paul II, in Poland, and Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, in France. She was saddened when visiting the location where President John F. Kennedy was shot, in Dallas, and deeply disturbed when visiting the Auschwitz concentration camp.

 

Eileen worked for over 30 years managing the international imports and exports of a German owned manufacturing company’s components in London, and retired in 1998, a few months after Brian unexpectedly passed. Her work colleagues and friends included Austrian, Swiss, Polish, Irish and German citizens who sought refuge in England due to WWII.

 

Eileen became a widow and grandmother within 48 hours but learned to adapt very quickly. She enjoyed watching her six grandchildren - Briana, Charlotte, Olivia, Patrick, Emma and Victoria - grow up in Cranleigh and New York. She mentioned a short time ago that she couldn’t believe she had lived long enough to see five of her six grandchildren graduate from secondary school and attend university.

 

​Eileen was a very kind, sophisticated and intelligent woman. She loved music and was trained in Traditional Irish Dancing when young. She was also competent at whistling and accompanied her brothers by whistling when they played the Ulleann pipes in the evening, while she was doing her homework. She also recalled climbing through her bedroom window at night, after local dances, afraid of waking her mother up when she was 17.

 

Eileen loved her family and friends deeply, and they loved her in return. She had an intuitive ability to “read” a situation or a person, resulting in wise decisions. Eileen and Brian shared a great sense of humour, humanity and kindness which endeared them to all who knew them. Their house was always full of music, guests and love. Eileen was particularly courageous during her final years, and always appreciated the care she received from Carers and the NHS. Eileen will be sorely missed, thought of often and always with love. Trevor and Denise feel blessed to have had such wonderful parents, and an extraordinarily lovely mother.

 

Funeral service at Jesus Christ the Redeemer of Mankind Church, Cranleigh, Surrey on 14th November at 10:30 am followed by private burial at Gunnersbury Cemetery, London W3. Reception at Cranleigh Country Club at 4:00 pm on 14th November. Family flowers only. Donations may be made to Royal Surrey Charity Cancer Centre Fund. Enquiries to Woodford Family Funeral Service tel: 01483 276500.