Eileen Mary Daicy

Portland - In the early hours of Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Eileen died peacefully surrounded by her family. She lived her 92 years with love, honesty, faith, and putting her family first. Eileen was the oldest of 6 children of Julia and Joseph Gallant. She was always a Portland girl, living on Brattle Street next to the Post Office, then in the Park Avenue apartment where she spent the majority of her childhood with three sisters and two brothers. When Eileen was eleven years old, her father died of pneumonia, leaving Julia to raise their six children alone. Eileen attended Sacred Heart School, and graduated in 1945 from Cathedral High School. She worked at W.T.Grant Department Store on Congress Street. It was there where she was introduced to Chester Daicy, the brother of her co-worker Marjorie. Chet and Eileen married on June 30, 1949 and celebrated 50 years of marriage. Chet died in April 2000. Their early years of marriage were spent in a Grant Street apartment before moving to Redbank in South Portland. They loved the neighborhood and yard, perfect for raising their growing family of four boys and one girl. It was the 1950's, and the couple took on the traditional roles of the time. Chet supported the family as a South Portland police officer, always supplementing that income with a second job. Meanwhile Eileen took care of the five children and the home. Eileen and Chet worked hard to ensure that their kids had what they needed. Eileen was a long-time communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Portland, and later, St. John The Evangelist Church in South Portland. She was a member of the St. John's Women's Council, and bowled every Monday morning for more than 40 years in the St. John's Women's Bowling League at the Big 20 in Scarborough. She loved her family, and especially cherished her role as Grammy to her 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Guided by her Catholic upbringing, she was a wonderful role model in how to treat others with kindness and love. Eileen and Chet enjoyed trips to NYC (honeymoon), DC, Maryland, Virginia, and especially Boothbay Harbor. Happiest times were spent with family at Camp on Highland Lake and, later, Sebago Lake. Those two weeks each year were filled with family, swimming, and well-deserved relaxation. She was predeceased by her parents, husband Chet, first-born son Steven, sister Lorraine Crawford, brother John Gallant, grandson Johnny Daicy, and son-in-law Mike McKenna. She will be missed by her sons Michael Daicy and wife Lauren, John Daicy and wife Sherry, William Daicy and partner Ellen, and daughter Sharon McKenna Molleur and husband James Molleur. She is also survived by her sister, Joan and husband Benny Lancia, sister Doreen Cook, and brother Joseph Gallant, Jr. and wife Rita. All of her grandchildren made her proud: Heather, Jennifer, Robert, Michele, Kristen, Eric, Laurie, Angela, Adam, Nikki, Courtney, Ben, Erin and Sam. She also had 13 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She loved you all. Visiting Hours celebrating Eileen's life will be held on Friday, Nov. 9, from 3-7PM at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at the Funeral Home on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 9:15AM followed by a 10AM Mass of Christian Burial at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. To view Eileen's memorial page or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com. The family appreciates the wonderful care provided by the caring staff of The Park Danforth, and the friendships Eileen found there and at Ridgeland Estates. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite charity.