Eileen Callahan Dowd, lifelong caregiver
On Friday, July 31, 2020, Eileen Callahan Dowd, 84, died peacefully in The Moorings at Lewes. Eileen now is able to join her husband of 44 years, Ray Dowd, in their journey together after life.
Eileen was born in the Bronx, N.Y., Sept. 19, 1935, to Helen and Lawrence Callahan. Eileen was youngest in the Callahan family preceded in death by her brother Lawrence Callahan and sister Anne Callahan Lindner. Eileen was always the one to care and worry about anyone she came in contact with; it was her vocation. After graduating from St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School in the Bronx, she was led to a life as a nun in New York, caring for vulnerable communities through her work with local Catholic churches. During this time she met her best friend for life Nancy Kein. After she felt she had done all she could as a Catholic Nun, Eileen left the convent and trained to be a registered nurse. For the rest of her working life she helped people in need in their homes as a visiting nurse.
After marrying Raymond Charles Dowd, she moved to Brielle, N.J., and continued her work as a visiting nurse. After retirement Eileen and Ray moved to Lewes to be close to Eileen’s brother, Lawrence, and sister, Anne.
In our family, Eileen is known as the one who will say a prayer for you and worry about your safety no matter where you are in life. Her heart was bigger than any of us could believe and she continually protected us all with her prayers. We will miss Eileen’s gentle nature and generous spirit. We can all still feel her prayers coming from afar. May she rest in peace.
Eileen was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Charles Dowd; her sister Anne Callahan Lindner; and brother, Lawrence Callahan. She is survived by her eight nieces and nephews and 12 great-nieces and -nephews.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 11 a.m., at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, N.Y. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
Please visit Eileen's Life Memorial Webpage and sign her online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com
