Eileen Gennaro, devoted wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2023, at the age of 93 years and 11 days. Her hand was held by her husband and her first-born son at her home in Laguna Niguel, California where she lived for the past 5 years.

Born on April 11, 1930, to Albert and Lucy D'Agostino. Eileen was predeceased by her siblings Alfred D'Agostino, Caroline Graine, Gerald D'Agostino, and Joan Misciagna. She is survived by her sister Anna Sicari (Aunt Nana). Eileen was a beloved wife to her husband of 71 years, Carmelo Gennaro, and a cherished mother to her three sons: Carl, Robert, and Joseph, as well as her three daughters-in-law: Marijati, Diane, and Nancy. She was also a doting grandmother to eight grandchildren: Zachary, Jonathan, Brianna, Caroline, Robert Jr., Daniel, Michael, and Benjamin, and six great-grandchildren: Isabella, Stefani, Silas, Raylan, Titus, and Olivia. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she loved connecting with them every chance she could. She even learned how to use the internet to stay in touch with her loved ones who lived far away.

From the moment Carl (Carmelo) met Eileen, he knew she was the one. The story goes that he flipped a coin with his friends to decide who would ask her to dance. He caught the coin before it landed and said "I am going to marry that girl!" And so, he did.  Carl and Eileen married in 1952, and they built a life together. They bought a house in Valley Stream, NY where they created a family together. Their home was filled with joy, laughter, and a lot of crazy. There was never a dull moment at the Gennaro house. Eileen always joked "Be nice to your children; they choose your nursing home."  Nights would be filled with her voice yelling "Carl, Robert, and Joseph!" That meant it was dinner time, or time for bed. To this day, people still mention that call into the night.

Eileen was a born-again Christian with a deep faith in Jesus. She found comfort and solace in her relationship with God and shared her love for Him with her family. She spent hours in the basement sewing and listening to Pastor R.C. Sproul on VHS tapes. Later in life she upgraded to an iPod. She even sewed a special cover for it.

Eileen loved her home, but also loved spending time at a beach house in Wading River where she enjoyed the water, cooked steamers, and mussels that the family had dug up and collected, and of course watched her kids and grandchildren play.  She was lucky to have a special friend "Chubby" that made his house her house any time she wanted.

Eileen loved to talk, and she truly loved talking to everyone. By the time she got her hair done, she knew the hairdresser's whole life story. She loved the telephone and hid every bill for her whole life. Even the mailman knew only to hand it to her personally. You could always find her on social media under the name "PHONEGRANDMA." Her warm and welcoming personality made her a beloved friend and confidante to many.

Eileen's beauty was not only admired by her family, but it also caught the attention of others throughout her life. When her sons went to school, she was often mistaken for their sister rather than their mother because of her youthful looks and radiant smile. It was not uncommon for people to be amazed when they learned that she was indeed their mother, and some even asked if she was a movie star. Eileen's ageless beauty was matched only by her inner beauty. She was kind, compassionate, and always had a warm embrace and words of wisdom for anyone in need. She was the one everyone called when they needed life advice. Eileen was the center of her family. She was full of class and in everything she did.

In honor of her memory, her family asks everyone to take a moment to connect with someone they care about and let them know how much they mean to them. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of her family and friends, and her memory will be cherished forever. Eileen's family knows she is not one to simply rest in heaven. They know her days will be filled with endless wonder, laughter, and excitement. Her family takes comfort in the thought of her fulfilling her missed childhood dreams such as lacing up a pair of fancy ice skates made for a princess, gliding gracefully across heavenly ice, enjoying her favorite food–chocolate–without gaining an ounce. We know she will find eternal happiness and joy in Heaven.