Obituary of Eileen Dorothy Callahan

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Eileen Dorothy Callahan, a wife of 49 years, mother of 6, and loving grandmother of 7 passed away after an extended illness on Tuesday, November 10, 2020.  She was 73 years old.   Eileen was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  She was the daughter of Francis and Mary McCarthy.  She grew up in the Porter Square section of Cambridge and was a graduate of North Cambridge Catholic High School.    Throughout her childhood, teenage, and some of her adult years she was a member of the Fitzmaurice Moran Academy of Irish Dance.  The group performed shows and competed in competitions all over New England.  She was an exceptional dancer and occasionally in her later years after much cajoling by her children would exhibit some of Irish Step moves. 

She met her future husband, Arthur Callahan, through mutual friends when Arthur was on leave from the Marines.  They married in 1971 and settled in Burlington in 1974.  She worked at Frasse Metals as an office clerk until the birth of her first child.  Her family grew to six children and her life was consumed with caring for and raising her children.   She was always there to support, encourage, tend to their bumps and bruises, and love them unconditionally.  She had a warm and welcoming personality, and her door was always open to all her children’s friends.  She had a gentle and giving heart. There was always room at her dining room table for any of her children’s friends.  Her station wagon was always filled to the brim with children whether it was coming back and forth to practices, a trip to Canobie Lake Park, Woodman’s, or Wingaersheek Beach, or just for an ice cream.  She was at all her children’s football, soccer, track, cheer, and basketball games and meets.  She was the thoughtful mom who brought canisters of hot chocolate to the football team on cold winter days and popsicles and waters to the track team on warm spring days.  She volunteered with the Post Grad Committee for a decade.  When the Giving Tree at St. Margaret’s Church had run out of donors, she, not wanting any child to go without a toy or gift at Christmas, would scoop up the remaining tags and head to the mall. 

In her later years Eileen took on a job with Zoll Medical as a Documentation Specialist. When she became a grandmother, she was always just a phone call away to help with a newborn baby, parental advice, or as a babysitter.  She would never say “No” to her family.  She loved going to all her grandchildren’s sports and activities.  She will be remembered as an avid reader, caring wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, and friend who was filled with kindness and love.

Eileen was the beloved wife of Arthur F.  Loving mother of Jeffrey & his wife Laurel of Arlington, Greg & his wife Ginny of Marshfield, Laura of Braintree, Paul & his wife Stephanie of Salem, NH, Michael & his wife Silvia of Salem, NH and Elizabeth Ganley & her husband Paul, Jr. of Burlington.  Proud grandmother of Shea, Keira, Declan, Piper & Jackson Callahan and Mackenzie & Carli Ganley.  Sister of Francis and Andrea McCarthy of Lexington, Patricia McCarthy of Billerica, William and Joanne McCarthy of Billerica, Ann McCarthy of Tewksbury and the late Mary Elizabeth McCarthy.   

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Sunday, Nov. 15 from 2-5pm.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Margaret Church of St. Veronica Parish, 111 Winn St., Burlington on Monday, Nov. 16 at 10am.  Live-stream link of the funeral mass is at the top of this page.  Services will conclude with burial at Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington.    

In lieu of flowers memorials in Eileen’s name may be made to Boston Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215-5301 www.bostonchildrens.org