Shrewsbury – Eileen M. (O’Rourke) Postale, of Shrewsbury, died Tuesday, March 31, 2015 in St. Vincent Hospital. She was 81.
Born Dec. 4, 1933 in Gloundaeigh, Currow, County Kerry, Ireland, she was one of 10 children born to the late Michael J. and Mary C. (O’Connor) O’Rourke and immigrated to the United States at the age of 18, settling in Worcester. Raised and educated in Gloundaeigh, she worked as a bookkeeper before moving to the States.
Eileen graduated from UMass – Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in education and earned her master’s degree in reading from Worcester State College. She was an educator first at Woodland School and later at St. Stephen’s School on Grafton Street for over 30 years. On Oct. 27, 1956, she married James A. Postale in The Cathedral of St. Paul in Worcester. They had been residents of Worcester for many years before moving to Shrewsbury in 1993.
Eileen’s faith guided her throughout her life. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church and taught C.C.D. at St. Bernard’s, Immaculate Conception, and St. Mary’s. She loved her Irish heritage and would look forward to annual trips home in July each summer.
In heaven, she joins her siblings, James, Dennis, John, Michael and Joseph O’Rourke, Mary Curtin, Catherine Donohue, Sheila Shanley, and Bridget Lyne.
Mourning her loss is her husband of 60 years, Jim Postale; her children, James A. Postale Jr. of Worcester, Mary C. Tupper of Shrewsbury, Brian J. Postale and his wife Patricia of Shrewsbury, and Eileen A. Erickson and her husband Ron of Auburn; her grandchildren, Caitlin Tupper, Kerry Postale, Briana Postale, Laura Postale, and Tanya Griffin; her great-grandchildren, Jayden and Elleigh; her sister-in-law, Joan O’Rourke of Worcester; and many cousins, including Jim and Joan O’Rourke of Worcester, with whom she was very close. She was also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Eileen’s life by gathering for calling hours Monday, April 6, 4-8 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, and again Tuesday morning, at 9 a.m., before leaving in procession to Saint Mary’s Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury, where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery in Worcester.
Memorials in Eileen’s name may be made to the Society of the Little Flower, 1313 Frontage Rd., Darien, IL 60561.
