Eileen Frances Harreld (née Thornton), 83, of Rochester, MN, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Thursday, April 22, 2021.
Eileen was born April 6, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York to James and Marie (Diffley) Thornton, a large Irish Catholic New York family. The Thornton’s moved to Rochester in 1956 when Eileen was just a young woman of 18. On October 12, 1957, she married Don W. (Bill) Harreld at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester. She met Bill on a blind date set up by Bill’s sister. From there Bill and Eileen raised their large family in Rochester, South Salem, New York, Paris, France, moving back to Rochester permanently in 1975.
Eileen was active in organizations that focused on serving others. She spent many years volunteering in the Methodist Hospital Auxiliary, including serving as its President. She was a long-time supporter and volunteer at the Gift of Life Transplant House. At various points during her life, she worked as a bookkeeper at Ina Mae’s Dress Shop in Rochester, was as an antique dealer in Stillwater, Minnesota, and office manager at Quilter’s Courtyard in St. Paul.
Eileen is survived by her children, Donald J. Harreld, of Richmond, MN, Elizabeth Cousins of Rancho Cordova, California, Thomas V. Harreld, or Livingston Montana, Mary Harreld of Stillwater, Jack Harreld of Stillwater, Harriet Kumar of Cincinnati, Ohio and Marie Segar of Eagan; 20 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Melissa Wilkin, and her husband, Bill Harreld.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 29, 2021 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Rochester, with Father James Berning officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass at St. Francis. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester.
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