Obituary of Eileen P. O'Toole

Eileen Patricia O’Toole completed her life journey on Sunday, October 16 at home in Canadensis with her family. She was born March 21, 1948 to Thomas and Irene Kurzynowski O’Toole in Jersey City NJ. After graduating from the New Jersey school system she matriculated at East Stroudsburg State College, now ESU, graduating in 1971 with a BS in Physical Education. Eileen established her professional career in the Greenwich Connecticut School System where she taught as a physical education teacher enjoying popularity with her students and later in her 30-year career with a Masters Degree, was a Guidance Counselor for some years. She retired from teaching in 1991, making her permanent residence in Canadensis. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, Eileen, now nicknamed “Ikeie” by her family and friends, rose to the challenge and fought the disease. Following more than a decade of extended surgical procedures, courses of chemical cocktails and applications of radiation, she was thought to have beaten the cancer. But, because of the cancer’s unexpected metastasis, Ikeie had to undertake a new regimen of treatments in varied protocols all of which continued until her death. Ikeie was a member of the Camp Bravehearts oncology organization, a sisterhood of women fighting breast cancer while giving each other mutual support. She was described by a camper as the first one out on the zip line at one outdoor event. “Ikeie made sure everyone was involved,” Gloria Zampini of Glenville NY, another camper reported. “At a Halloween party there were women new to the camp who didn’t have costumes. Ikeie took them to the costume storage and got them involved.” She loved learning how to fold five one dollar bills into flowers while three one dollar bills became a star. Ikeie taught that origami to another group of campers. Bonding with other cancer survivors, she was sought out for her bravery. Working with Camper Christine Esposito of Cresco last year, the two women sought gifts for a “tricky tray” fundraiser that supplied 200 gift baskets. She appears on the organization’s internet website. She shared her vitality and zest for life at each session of the camp. Ikeie said that in one word Camp Bravehearts was “love.” She was a communicant member of the Canadensis Moravian Church. An example of her generosity within the congregation was shown in her purchase of honey from a beekeeper which she then donated for sale to help support the church. She served as a Deiner for special services and was an elder on the church board. Ikeie loved animals and volunteered her aid with AWSOM by providing food and bedding for cats and dogs. She joyed in the outdoors and took her friends to visit Columcille Megalith Park and Celtic Art Center because of its motivating concepts of love, light and peace. It was an important source of support for her continuing love of life. Eileen’s two loving sisters, Joan Deering and Carolyn Dente, both of Canadensis, are arranging a private gathering of family and friends to celebrate and affirm Eileen’s life with the date and location to be announced. Appropriate life celebration ceremonies will be performed in Eileen’s name at that observance with her nieces Deanna Block of Canadensis, Lisa Deering of Raritan NJ, Kelly Deering and Coleen Sullivan of Stroudsburg, Cheri Mulhare of Virginia and Renee Sopko of New Jersey as well as her nephews, Edward Deering JR and Victor Holmlund of New Jersey and Thomas O’Toole Dente of Canadensis. Memorial donations may be made to Canadensis Moravian Church, PO Box 208, Canadensis PA 18325 or Camp Bravehearts Inc, 19 Cambridge Road, Albany NY 12203 or AWSOM {Animal Welfare Society of Monroe} PO Box 13 Stroudsburg PA 18360. Private cremation has been entrusted to Bolock Funeral Home Crematory.