Eileen Reifsteck

Eileen Leone Reifsteck
May 24, 1925 June 3, 2014

Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, August 16, 2014 at South Park Cemetery for Eileen L. Reifsteck. Associate Pastor Sean Lee of Grace Community Church will officiate.

Eileen was born to Lorenne and Oscar Reifsteck on May 24, 1925 in Cowden, Illinois. She and her family moved to Champaign Illinois where Eileen attended all her school years: elementary, junior high and high school. Eileen graduated from Champaign High School in 1942.

After graduating from high school, Eileen worked at Time Incorporated as a mail sorter. In 1946, she began working for Illinois Bell Telephone as a telephone operator. Over the years, she advanced to Chief Service Observer in charge of development and training of the service observers in her district. She continued working for Illinois Bell until they were bought by ATT. She retired from ATT after 34 years.
After her retirement, Eileen worked for the University of Illinois as a special events worker where she took tickets and seated fans. She said this job was a lot of fun as she was able to see many events and the Fighting Illini home games while doing her job.

Eileen loved sports, as a young woman she played softball for the Illinois Commercial College Softball Team. She was a member of several womens bowling leagues, competing in womens bowling competitions in Champaign and Chicago. Eileen also enjoyed spending weekends at her cabin on the Lake with her dogs and friends where she could go swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing.

She was a loyal fan of major league sports throughout her life, her favorite teams were the Chicago Bears, Cubs, Bulls and the NY Yankees.

Before moving permanently to Roswell, Eileen was a snowbird where she spent winter months in Roswell and summers in Illinois. She moved to Roswell permanently in 1994 desiring to be near her brother Bob and her sisterinlaw and friend Elissa. They enjoyed playing golf, watching sports and traveling to many interesting places together.

Eileen took advantage of the activities offered in Roswell and kept very busy swimming, golfing, and volunteering. Eileen believed swimming was great exercise and was a regular at the Roswell Racquet Club. She also was an avid golfer and was a member of the Roswell Ladies Golf League. She could be found playing at Spring River or NMMI golf courses until just a few years ago.
She worked as a volunteer candy striper at the Eastern New Mexico Medical Center for over 20 years. She also volunteered for Harvest Ministries in the food assistance program for 3 years.

She attended the First Christian Church and Grace Community Church.

Eileen was a compassionate dog lover and always had a special place in her heart for any dog that needed care. She was a regular supporter and contributor to the Roswell Humane Society. She will be greatly missed by her two beloved dogs, Goldie and Tippy who survive her.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents Lorenne and Oscar Reifsteck, her brother Bob Reifsteck, and sisterinlaw Elissa Reifsteck.

She is survived by her nieces Janet Barnett and her husband Hal and Sue Ann Carpenter, her nephew Dan Carpenter and his wife Carol. She also has three greatnieces Ruth Bauer and her husband Kelly, Karen Barnett, and Candace Azevedo and her husband Timothy, and one great nephew, Jack Carpenter. She is also survived by a greatgreat niece and nephew Emma and Toby Bauer.

Eileen was kind, strong, independent and a true patriot. She loved her family. She was a wonderful, loving and devoted daughter who cared for her parents until their passing. She was a good sister, sisterinlaw, aunt and friend. Her strong presence will be missed.

The family would like to express their thanks to her good friends Doc and Karen Stangebye and Jane Johnson for their loyal friendship and frequent visits during her illness her hospice nurse Jodie Rogers, Gentiva Hospice, and a special gratitude to Dr. Reynaldo Martinez, MD for his excellent care of Eileen for many years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Roswell Humane Society or Grace Community Church.

Condolence maybe made online at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com

Arrangements are under the personal care of LaGrone Funeral Chapel.

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