Eileen Connor Paxton

Eileen Connor Paxton, age 88 of Hamilton passed away quietly in her sleep on Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 5:35 AM in her residence at Berkeley Square Health Care. She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on February 8, 1919 the daughter of Daniel Joseph and Mary (Walker) Connor. She moved to South Hadley, Massachusetts at the age of three, where she lived until meeting and marrying on April 27, 1946 Robert J. Paxton Sr. of Hamilton.

Eileen attended Holyoke Secretarial College and the McCarthy Business College, and was employed as a secretary to the Strategic Air Command Commandant at Westover Air Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts. It was here she met her husband of sixty years, Bob Paxton, owner of Paxton Shoe Store in Hamilton, who preceded her in death on Memorial Day, 2006.

Eileen leaves two children, Robert J. Caverly Paxton Jr. and his wife Carol of Wakefield, Massachusetts and Maureen Elise Schwab of Cincinnati; three grandchildren, Michael (Beth) Schwab of Oxford, Anthony Schwab of Columbus, and Kathleen Schwab of Cleveland; four great-grandchildren, A.J., Michael Jr., Layne, and Emma; her loyal and loving sister, Dorothea and her husband John G. Barry of South Hadley, Massachusetts; her brother, Dr. Walker F. Connor and his wife Mary Lyon of Belmont, Vermont; and her sister-in-law, Rita Paxton. Among many kind and wonderful nieces and nephews, Eileen leaves her dear niece and godchild, Kate Gadbois, they share a very special relationship.

Eileen did much volunteer work through St. Peter in Chains School, assisting in the volunteer nurse program, distributing anti-polio serum to students and administering tuberculosis tests. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout assistant leader for the parish girls for many years. Eileen later ventured into interior decorating with Eileen Siemens until her early death.

Describing Eileen, one would say she was a woman who loved to take long walks, to read, and who taught herself to be and exceptional cook and baker. She was also a wonderful caregiver for both her mother and father-in-law, and to her long-suffering stepmother-in-law as well.

Eileen made many friends at Berkeley Square, where she lived in later years and the staff there, Rachel and Anita and most especially, Christie, to name only a few, became for her the family she had left behind in Massachusetts.

Prayers will be held at the Brown-Dawson Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Avenue, on Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 11:15 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Joseph Catholic Church at 12:00 noon with Fr. Dennis Dettenwanger, Celebrant. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church.