In Memory: Eileen Balfe Harrigan, Age 97

Eileen Balfe Harrigan was born in Beacon, NY on July 22, 1927 to the late Ann Keating Balfe and John Thomas Balfe. She was the eldest of four daughters, and she was predeceased by her three sisters, Marie Richardson, Anita Bradley, and Margaret Balfe. The family resided in Mount Vernon, NY and she attended St Ursula’s School prior to moving to Rye, NY in 1938.

In Rye, the family lived in Indian Village, on Mendota Avenue and Onondaga Street, before moving to their home on Central Avenue. Eileen attended Resurrection Grammar School and Rye High School before graduating from Sacred Heart High School in Stamford, CT in 1945.

She earned a B.A. in English from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana in 1949 and an M.A. in Education from Manhattanville College in 1977.

Eileen married Francis J Harrigan, who survives her, on April 17, 1956 at the Church of the Resurrection in Rye. She is survived by six children: Cecilia; Francis Jr. [Paula]; Rosemary; Mary Colleen[Peter]; Maureen; and John Thomas[Mary]. She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Ann Harrigan; Peter and Matthew Kohler; Kaitlyn and Maeve McGuire; Fiona, Ailis, and Sinead Monaghan; Kathleen Harrigan Reeves and Maggie Harrigan, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Eileen was a substitute teacher at Midland School in Rye; she taught CCD for many years at Resurrection; she was a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader; she was a librarian for many years at SUNY Purchase. Eileen volunteered at Our Lady of Victory School in Mount Vernon while her sister Margaret [Peg] was Principal. She was an avid knitter, and made afghans for all of her children and grandchildren to take to college. She knitted soft wool caps for the Healing Shawls Program for cancer patients at Greenwich Hospital, and for infants in the Pregnancy Care Center sponsored by Resurrection. She was an accomplished needle pointer. Her family’s maritime heritage gave her an appreciation for the salt air, which she enjoyed on her deck in Chatham on Cape Cod. Her gardens were colorful and her hydrangeas were the brightest blue. Eileen adored the smell of gardenias. She delighted at the arrival and departure of the migratory birds. Her homes had dogs and cats and the occasional bunny. In Chatham, she volunteered at the Atwood House Museum, and her skills and experience were particularly helpful when the Museum was endowed with a notable book collection.

Eileen never lost her love of learning and was keenly interested in continuing to enhance her Roman Catholic Faith. She was the epitome of serenity, grace, and devotion.

The Family would like to thank the many people and organizations that provided kind assistance during Eileen’s final years. These include her Doctors, The Rye Police Department and Port Chester/Rye/Rye Brook EMS, the staff of Greenwich Hospital, Visiting Angels of Westchester, her exceptional and compassionate team of caregivers in Chatham, current and former priests from Resurrection, Calvary Hospice, VNA Hospice of Cape Cod, and Chatham Fire & Rescue.

The family will receive friends at the Graham Funeral Home in Rye, NY on Wednesday September 11, 2024 from 4-7PM.  A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at the Church of the Resurrection on Thursday September 12, 2024 at 10AM.  The Mass will be live-streamed for those who are unable to attend in-person. Interment to follow at St. Joachim Cemetery in Beacon, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the following:

5817 Old Leeds Road

Irondale, Alabama 35210

Ann K Balfe Memorial Library Fund for Art

St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556

Chatham Fire Association

135 Depot Road, Chatham, MA 02633