Eileen Lee

LEE
Eileen Henrietta
Age 79, of Mahtomedi

Eileen H. Lee passed away peacefully February 13, 2018, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous 9-year journey with Alzheimer's. Eileen was preceded in death by husband, Donald; and parents, Larry and Ruth Traxler. She will be sadly missed by children, Ann (Joe) Leahy, Mary (Chris) Elfmann and Frank (Jael) Lee; grandchildren, Jacob, Ben, Danny and Shannon; siblings, Joan Thonet, Marian Adam and Clem (Joan) Traxler; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends, including Mary Kotten, Bev Bartl, and Mona Buckner.

Eileen was born on January 29, 1939, in St. Henry, Minnesota, a small farming community located 60 miles west of the Twin Cities. The youngest of four children, Eileen spent her early years in a one-room country school, a short distance from the Traxler family farm. She attended junior high at St. Mary's in Le Center, the county seat of Le Sueur County. Eileen graduated in 1956 from Le Center High School, where she excelled in many subjects, including science. Away from school, Eileen was actively involved in 4-H, most notably as a bread making champion, representing Le Sueur County at the Minnesota State Fair in 1955. Along with her sisters, Eileen helped with household chores and shared the responsibility of gathering eggs and cleaning the chicken coop, a chore she met with an uncharacteristic lack of enthusiasm. Among her dearest high school friends were Janet (David) Gish, Denise (Kiernan) Rigney, and Sister Shirley Deutsch.
After high school, Eileen moved to the Twin Cities, where she studied at St. Mary's School of Nursing, graduating in 1959. Eileen began her nursing career at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, prior to spending the next five years at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul. In the summer of 1964, Eileen met the love of her life, Donald Lee, at the Prom Ballroom in St. Paul. After a brief engagement the couple married on October 2, 1965. On September 4, 1966, the couple welcomed their first child, Ann Denise, into the world. Mary, in 1968, and Frank, in 1972, followed, so Eileen put her career on hold, spending the next 10 years as a stay-at-home mom to raise her growing family. Eileen later returned to the nursing profession, working as an R.N. at Maple Manor Nursing Home and later in transitional care at North St. Paul Care Center. Over the course of her career she cared for thousands of patientsa�"always with empathy, respect, and supreme attention to detail. In addition to taking care of others, Eileen was also her children's number one fan, taking in countless games and always there to support her kids. She was also an integral part of the family business, staying on even keel and providing balance to Donald's more robust entrepreneurial spirit.
Eileen was a longtime parishioner at Church of St. Patrick in St. Paul, where she belonged to St. Pat's Altar & Rosary Society, the Prayer Shawl Group, Legion of Mary, and volunteered as both a nurse and tutor at the elementary school. Eileen was also an active member of the Hibernians and proudly shared her Swiss heritage as a member of the Swiss Club. Eileen was an avid quilter, often travelling to area festivals to share her craft with others. Eileen's biggest athletic claim to fame occurred in 2006, when she qualified for the Senior Games in race walking and competed nationally in Louisville, Kentucky. Eileen and her family loved to travel, especially to her beloved Ireland, a trip she made on three occasions. Other favorite spots included Grand Marais, along the North Shore of Lake Superior, and Destin, Florida, where Don and Eileen spent many winters.

Dearest Mom, May the Angels lead you to paradise.

Visitation Sunday, February 18, 2018, 2:00-5:00 P.M. with a Rosary service at 5:00 P.M. at BRADSHAW, 4600 Greenhaven Drive at Highway 96 (one mile west of 35E), White Bear. Mass of Christian Burial Monday, February 19, 2018, 10:30 A.M. at CHURCH OF ST. PATRICK, 1095 DeSoto Street, St Paul. Visitation also one hour prior to the Mass at the church. Private interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer's Association.