Eileen Mary Dixon Prendeville
A mother's legacy of love and faith
Eileen Mary Dixon Prendeville, a resident of New Providence, New Jersey, for 65 years, passed away peacefully at home on March 21, 2020, surrounded by her loving family at the age of 100.
She was born to the late Eric and Maud Dixon on October 21, 1919, in London, England, along with her twin brother, Ted. Eileen and Ted were the first cesarean twins born at St. Mary's Hospital in London where both the twins and the mother survived. Her parents brought the twins to the United States when they were a year old to live in East Hanover, New Jersey, where her grandfather owned a farm. Eileen was a Girl Scout in the early years of the organization. She graduated from Hagerstown High School in Maryland in 1938 and worked at Picatinny Arsenal in the finance department during WWII.
Eileen met her late husband, Edward Prendeville, when she was five years old. They reconnected writing letters in 1942 when Ed was a navigator in the Army Air Corps. Ed proposed to Eileen via Western Union Telegram on her birthday, October 21, 1943: "See you Monday morning. Lets get married. All my love Eddie." Eileen responded: "Answer is yes. Wire too brief. How long have you? Must know more. Love Eileen." They married six days later on October 27, 1943, at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Whippany, New Jersey. They were blessed with 10 children, 24 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Eileen's secret to living a blessed life was her steadfast faith in God and calm nature. Her faith and family were the foundations on which she built a happy, healthy, and long life. Eileen had a love for life, and her smile would light up a room. Her beauty, love, and grace radiated warmly through her infinite prayers and acts of kindness to all her family, friends, and neighbors.
Eileen was a devoted Catholic and a member of Our Lady of Peace Church for 65 years. She was actively involved in daily Mass and Weekly Devotions, Small Christian Communities, President of the Rosary Altar Society, Eucharistic Ministry for Mass as well as home visitation, Prayer Shawl Knitting Ministry, monthly preparation of sandwiches for St. Joseph Social Service Center, and OLP Soup Supper. She deepened her faith on pilgrimages to Medjugorje, Lourdes, Vatican City, and Venezuela.
Eileen was an avid reader and had a large personal library of books. Taking after her father, she thoroughly enjoyed traveling. She poured her love into knitting and cross-stitch needlework projects which she gifted to happy recipients. After graduating from a three-year handwriting analysis course while raising her children, Eileen attracted inquisitive family members and friends eager to learn what their handwriting style and signatures revealed.
Eileen celebrated the impressive milestone of her centennial birthday last October. Family and friends shared memories and honored her with gratitude and admiration. It was truly a wonderful occasion.
Eileen's life was blessed with her beloved late husband, Edward Prendeville; 10 loving children: the late Kathleen Prendeville, Patricia (Wayne) Hockman, Dennis Prendeville, Edward (Cynthia Harriman) Prendeville, the late Raymond (Judy) Prendeville, Mary (the late Timothy) Sullivan, Sharon Perrige, Michael (Susan) Prendeville, Ellen (William) Gascoigne, and Janet (Craig) Garno; 24 cherished grandchildren; 23 cherished great-grandchildren; 1 cherished great-great grandchild; and 4 dear siblings: her late twin brother Edward "Ted" (Diane) Dixon; twin sisters Sr. Mary Bernadette (born Patricia) Dixon and the late Marion Shirley (the late Francis) Norton; and her late brother Robert (Carolyn) Dixon.
Eileen was also blessed with two devoted caregivers from Anita's Angels, Inc. Eileen's compassionate and loving companion, Carol Giglio, made it possible for Eileen to attend daily Mass, and a beautiful friendship blossomed over a three-year period. Thereafter and for almost a year, Eileen was graced with the presence of her live-in caregiver, Sarah Nartey. Sarah embraced the care of Eileen with patience, love, and joy. Her faith and dedication toward Eileen earned Sarah the loving endearment "My Angel."
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Paul Ippolito Berkeley Memorial. Funeral services and Mass will be private due to unprecedented circumstances concerning the coronavirus pandemic. The family is saddened to not bid Eileen farewell with extended family and friends. Therefore, arrangements have been made to live stream the Funeral Mass. You can join the family in prayer in the safety of your own home and view the Funeral Mass taking place at Our Lady of Peace Church at 12:00 PM Tuesday, March 24, 2020. For those who would like to view the Mass via live stream, information will be made available at www.ippolitofuneralhomes.com/ . A Private Christian burial will be at St. Teresa Cemetery in Summit, New Jersey, where she will rest with her beloved husband, Edward.
In remembrance of Eileen and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Carmel of St. Teresa of Jesus by visiting Eileen's personalized memorial contribution page at https://inmemof.org/ or by mailing a check to IN MEMORY OF, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905 (please make check payable to In Memory Of and include Eileen's name and charity in the memo section of the check). Carmel is a cloistered order of nuns where Eileen's sister, Pat (Sr. Bernadette), has devoted 65 years of her life praying for the church and seeking Christ in prayer and contemplation.