Obituary of Ann Eagan

Ann Eagan, a gentle and loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and dear friend to many peacefully passed away on Monday afternoon, November 30, 2015. She was 77 years old. The center of her universe was her family and she would do anything to help or enrich the lives of those she cared for. Ann had worked as a waitress at the Boston Symphony and at Jimmy’s Restaurant at the Burlington Mall for many years, but if asked her profession she would say a homemaker. She was a vibrant and welcoming woman who always had a smile, warm remark, and was a pleasure to be with. She loved to entertain and her home and pool where the gathering spot for family celebrations, holidays, warm summer afternoons, or any other occasion. When you put together Ann with her husband Tom, their wit and candor would liven any event. Her door was always open to her children’s friends as well. She loved to travel whether it was to Ireland, Hawaii, Panama Canal, cruises, Eastover, or the yearly family Cape Cod vacations. She enjoyed walking, exercising and working out at the gym despite falling off the treadmill and getting an ambulance ride to the hospital. Her greatest joy has been that of being “Nanny” to her 5 grandchildren. At the birth of her first grandchild, she stopped working so that she could help care for them. She courageously fought her cancer, but when the cancer progressed, it gave her comfort to know she would soon be reunited with her husband Tom and daughter Debbie, in heaven. Ann’s passing saddens her loved ones, but her legacy and memory will live on in all the hearts she has touched in her 77 years. Ann was the loving wife of the late Thomas Eagan, Jr. She was the loving mother of Nancy O’Callaghan & her husband Steve of Burlington, Maureen Eagan of Burlington, the late Debra Dew and her husband Gary Dew of Burlington. She was the sister of William Shaw of Everett, Robert Shaw of Everett, Theresa Shaw of Milwaukee, WI, the late Marguerite Darling, Helen Hall, Michael and Walter Shaw. Ann was the proud grandmother of Alyssa, Matthew, & Kirsten Dew and Caroline & Maeve O’Callaghan. She was also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Friday, Dec. 4 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ann’s name may be made to the Eagan and Dew Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Northern Bank, 13 Center St., Burlington, MA 01803. Family Remembrance by Nancy On behalf of our family, we can't thank you enough for the phone calls, texts, meals, hugs and love we have received over the past few weeks During the last couple of years, Cancer has overshadowed our lives, although It has touched our lives greatly , Cancer did not define our family, It is our strength, love and the bond of family that defines us. My Mom and Dad taught us from a young age the value of family. We had many great times with my Dad before he left us. During her last hospitalization I was asking my mom her favorite memories and she said any vacation where we were all together. She has missed my Dad over the last 17 years but treasured all the times they had together. We have been blessed not only with each other but with a huge extended family. My mom always proudly talked about her family. As the youngest of 8 there was always something buzzing in the Shaw family. She took pride in talking about all her nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters. As the family expanded over the years her love for it grew. She looked forward to family events . When we were younger she often hosted gatherings with great memories of parties when my cousins visited from Peoria. She loved the weddings and other celebrations. She looked forward to Christmas parties where she loved taking part in the 12 days of Christmas, Ann and Chucks gatherings which she always boasted that we were all able to fit in their house or even just lunch with her brothers and sister in laws. She was thrilled to go to the cape this year, although not with the same robustness as in past years being together was important to her. She had a special bond with her sister Terri and missed the daily calls over the past couple of years due to her Alzheimer's disease. But their relationship continued to strengthen through her children and my Uncle Joe who always kept in touch and loved her with all their hearts. My mom was the strength of our family. She was the most selfless person I know. Always her main concern even In her last days was our family. She was worried about Maureen and I and everything we have been through. she missed Debbie tremendously always starting each day with a prayer with her picture by her side. She was concerned about her treasured 5 grandchildren. As she told a nurse in the hospital -- they are my everything! Her faith was strong and an inspiration to me -- in the past few months she would call me on my way to church every week to remind me to say a prayer for her. We have so many stories and memories and each of us will hold special ones in our hearts forever. I just wanted to share a few. During a trip to London for my cousins wedding. My mom was one of the girls traveling with her nieces and exploring London. On one trip to the wax museum they were sitting in the lobby waiting for the rest of the crowd. My mom told the story of walking up to the desk and saying excuse me where is the Lou thinking she was really adapting to the London lingo. After not getting a response she spoke in a sterner voice excuse me-- only to have the whole lobby burst into laughter as she was talking to a wax figure. Everyone knew my mom loved a good party and to have fun. A few years back, when wine started coming in a box she was so excited to bring it to Ann and Chucks Christmas party. During a fill up she must have accidentally left the spicket open and for days would talk about the big mess it made and who would have done that. Years later and we still needed to assure her that it was in fact her that made the mess as no one else drank wine out of a box!! During one of the many times down the cape she was sitting and admiring the fullness of the moon only to have her bubble burst to find out it was a street light-- from that day on whenever we see a full moon we call it a Nanny moon! The daily impact and presence in our life is what we will Miss the most. The kids will miss her supporting them in all their activities with such pride. Both Maureen and I will miss the multiple phone calls just to say hi and check in. We will miss all the questions she loved to ask! Steve used to joke that she must have a camera on our house because no sooner would I walk in the door that the phone would ring. But I already so miss those calls. I wanted to share a story that I will always hold close to my heart. As I said Cancer has touched our lives but not defined it. Along the way we met incredible people that didn't just treat her but cared deeply about her. She continued to touch people even in her time of need. During this last bout I was in the Cancer center at Lahey and my mom was at a scan getting ready to start treatment. They were working trying to coordinate appts to get treatment started quickly and I walked up to the desk met by a nurse practitioner that met my mom one time over a year before. She looked at me and said oh no why are you here? As anyone who knows me my eyes filled up and she pulled me into a small room. I cried and she hugged me and she shared this. She said see that waiting room out there-- Cancer happens to good people and that's why I do this job. she went on to tell me that she had a daily routine with her kids and each night they talked about one good and one bad part of their day during dinner. She said I just want to tell you that your mom is going to be my good part of my day tonight, because she is lucky to have such a great family and I hugged her and said-- it was us that was lucky to have her! After my Dad passed someone gave me a book to read. The book Tuesday's with Morrie left me with my favorite quote which I will share with you. &quote;Death ends a life, not a relationship. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on- in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.&quote; We love you!