Eileen Margaret Mary Hannahoe Mccoy

Eileen, 77, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away July 20, 2015 surrounded by her loved ones.   Eileen loved her family, her church and her friends – and we miss her very much. She passed away Monday after a brave battle against time. Eileen lived a full life with Charlie, her husband of 54 years, their four daughters, their spouses, and grandchildren.   If anyone asked for one word to describe Eileen it would be LOVE. She loved fully, unconditionally and without prejudice. Her enthusiastic smile always warmed the hearts of those around her and as her tiny body failed, she faced challenges with dignity, grace, and kindness, always more concerned for others than for herself.   Eileen was born in Reading, Pennsylvania and spent most of her childhood in Brooklyn, New York. She was raised by her mother and was the middle child, anchored between her older brother Patrick and her baby sister Nancy. As a girl, she suffered classic middle child syndrome. She bemoaned them for getting all of the attention and having “curls” while she had “straights”.   As it turns out, she did have enviable middle child qualities; outgoing social being, gregarious, gracious, loyal, endearing, and full of love. Eileen was all of these things and so much more.   In her young years, her favorite pastime was watching movies and passionately following the lives of Hollywood starlets. As was the norm at the time, Eileen created her “movie star name” and decided, if she ever made it to Hollywood, she would be known as Anne Thomas. She was a dreamer!   Eileen married her forever husband, Charlie, in 1961. Incidentally, they both grew up on the very same street, Garfield place in Brooklyn, although they didn’t know each other as children. Her husband delusively believes that the luckiest day of her life was the day she met him (just kidding Pops – it was definitely a lucky day)! They had four daughters and in 1973, the young family moved to Phoenix where she focused on her faith, family, and continued her career as a legal secretary. She and Charlie always lived in the same area of town, never wanting to leave her beloved Parish, Saint Thomas the Apostle. Eileen was full of love and known by all for her kindness and giving spirit. Her life revolved around her family and friends, she was a voracious reader, and loved to travel. Her greatest joy was her four girls and if you asked any one of them about their relationship with their mom, each would say that she was their, “number one supporter and best friend.” Oh, and each believed they were her favorite!   Eileen was an aunt to many beloved nieces and nephews, and she shares a special closeness with each, many of whom would describe her as their “favorite aunt.” Eileen has many lifelong friends who loved and respected her and who have now lost a loyal and trustworthy friend. Eileen personified beauty through and through. Her family held her tightly these past few months, but God was calling and they sadly let her go.   Eileen is preceded in death by her Mother, Anne E. (Maguire) Hannahoe, and grandchildren Matthew and Tricia Eileen Dorrell.   Survivors include her devoted husband Charles, her girls Anne, Theresa, Noreen (Barney) Wintergalen and Carrie McCoy. Her grandchildren, Andrew (Vanessa), Kevin (Colette) and Katy Dorrell, Charlie and Will Wintergalen and her great grandchildren, Nick, Lily, Sean Dorrell, Hailey Wolinski, Caleb, Kiara and Avelin Eileen Dorrell, and her siblings Patrick and Nancy Hannahoe, along with many extended family members and close friends, who loved her dearly.         Visitation will be held from 6:00 -8:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM, Sunday, July 26, 2015 at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix.   Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM Monday, July 27, 2015 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2312 E. Campbell Avenue, Phoenix. Interment will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.