Memorial

Eileen Marie Foster, 90, of Iowa City, passed away February 1, 2020 in her home at Keystone Place at Forevergreen Senior Living. Private family funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24th followed by an inurnment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. A livestream of the service can be viewed at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/43642551

Eileen was born on July 30, 1929 in Monticello, Iowa, to Owen and Helen (Beagan) Kennedy. Eileen graduated from Mt. Mercy Academy and was employed by John Hancock Life Insurance after graduation.  While working at John Hancock she met the love of her life, Fred W. Foster, Jr. after he had returned from serving in the U.S. Navy during WW II.  On September 3, 1949, she and Fred were united in marriage at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Eileen and Fred were lifelong members of St. Matthew’s Church. They were blessed with four children – Patricia, Thomas, Luanne and Linda.  

Eileen will be fondly remembered for her beautiful smile, love of music, dancing, sewing and baking, especially a family favorite, pumpkin bread.  She acknowledged every holiday, birthday or special occasion of the year as an opportunity to share her happiness and gratitude for everyone in her life.  She had a wonderful gift for making family and friends feel important and loved.  Eileen enjoyed being outdoors, especially when she could be walking her dog Hawkeye, gardening or just enjoying the sunshine.  But most of all, Eileen enjoyed spending time with her family, in particular her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Eileen is survived by her children, Patricia (Edward) Glenn of Louisiana, MO; Thomas (Kathy) Foster of Sun City, AZ; Luanne Hill of Denver, CO; and Linda (Dave) Crowley of Iowa City, IA; a cousin, Leanore (Hladek) Tubbs of Cedar Rapids, IA; and a niece, Eugenia Kennedy of Iowa City, IA.  Eileen was blessed with 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, all of which she loved so much they had to take turns claiming the title of No. 1 grandchild or great grandchild. 

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Fred, and her brother Eugene and sister-in-law, Marion Kennedy.

The family extends many thanks to the wonderful care provided by the staff at Keystone Place at Forevergreen Senior Living as well as to the staff at Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Compassus Hospice & Palliative Care at https://compassuslivingfoundation.org/

“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, so loved, so missed, so very dear”