Eileen Shannahan-Huffman, age 60, passed away unexpectedly Saturday June 3, 2017 in Lewes DE following a brief illness. She is predeceased by her father John F. Shannahan, and her dad John W. McBride and dear friends Hilda Pearl Williams, Georgiana and Leona. She is survived by the loves of her life, her sons Garrett, Frankford DE, Austin, Columbia MD, and her daughter Morgan of San Jose, CA, grandsons Braiden and Mason, mother Bernadette McBride, her favorite older brother Patrick Shannahan, favorite middle brother Kevin McBride, favorite baby brother Scott McBride, her favorite and much wiser older sister Ann Grassi, favorite baby sister Karen Vinti, her very special sister in-laws and best friends Rebecca McBride and Andrea McBride, brother in-law Douglas Grassi, step sisters Colleen Meza, Linda Panarello, Patti Aflach, step brothers John McBride and Rick McBride, nieces & nephews Therese & Phillip Shannahan, Timmy & Mathew Grassi, James McBride, Brian McBride, Jonathan McBride, Shannon Miszczuk, Elizabeth & Zachary Vinti, and favorite uncle Carl Hinners of Godfrey Ill. 
Eileen was a graduate of Maine-Endwell High School, and Montgomery College in Maryland. She was a devoted mother and involved in her childrens lives. She participated in their school activities and would volunteer with planning elementary school graduations and a variety of other tasks. She enjoyed working with the Modeling Moppets who provided non-profit fashion shows at nursing homes for the residents. She was also involved with the 4-H where she worked on many projects over the years. She always encouraged her children to be themselves and not to "follow the crowd". 
Eileen was very talented. There wasnt a thing she couldnt do or at least try. She was a paralegal, realtor, a gifted decorator, fashion consultant, and a professional party planner and boy could she party! Shed even cut your hair if youd let her. Eileen could always put an event together and when you sat down to eat, every detail was so wonderful you felt like royalty. She made everything so special. 
Eileen was very thoughtful, if she found an old photo or some piece of memorabilia that she knew would be important to a friend or family member, she would frame it and give it to you years or decades after it took place. 
Wherever she was, there was laughter. She touched so many lives and everyone feels blessed to have her in theirs. In moments of great joy or sadness, Eileen was there to help you celebrate the joyous times or make the sad times less sad. If you were ever feeling down, you wouldnt stay down long with Eileen around. 
Eileen was always up for a caper, there wasnt much she wouldnt consider. If there was a puppy in another state that needed rescuing, she was in. If you needed help moving she was in. Even if it meant driving to NYC in the middle of the night to help someone move from their 3rd floor apartment on the hottest day of the year, she was in. 
Eileen was courageous and determined. She wasnt afraid of man nor beast and was tough as they come. There wasnt a car, truck or piece of machinery she could not drive or operate. She loved home improvement and would take on any task, big or small. It didnt matter if it was sanding down hardwood floors, plastering walls, re-glazing windows, or landscaping, you name it, and shed tackle it. 
As a child her dad would say "Eileen, youre the smartest of all of my kids, every time I try to explain something to you, you would respond by saying" "I know dad". 

Her siblings enjoyed her imaginative and hard-working nature. One summer in her pre-teen years she spent hours moving & hauling rocks in the creek on Death Valley Road so that we would have a better swimming hole. 
One regret Eileen had was never learning to dive. It didnt come from a lack of trying however, she tried repeatedly. She also practiced from the comfort of her own home. During the summer months while mom & dad are at work, Eileen would spend hours jumping off the arm of the couch into the couch cushions until she felt ready to take the big plunge. 
She was passionate about everything. She loved life and her family to the fullest. She was an advocate for the underdog and always put others first. Eileen loved camping at Beaverkill State Park especially when the three sisters went by themselves before the rest of the clan arrived. 
Her motto was to "always continue to learn, grow and follow your dreams" (MESH). 
Our lives will never be as sunny and happy without you Eileen. You are the best! We love you. You will never be gone, you are only away resting.