Eileen M. Katemopoulos' Obituary
Remembering Eileen… Eileen Mary Katemopoulos was born in Hong Kong on November 11, 1951, the second daughter of Mildred and Theodore Katemopoulos. Even as a little girl, Eileen’s love of animals was legendary, with a menagerie of both smuggled and adopted pets making their way into the family home. She was a real people person, and was quick to chatter with anyone and everyone. Like her sisters Maureen and Kathryn, Eileen attended Maryknoll Sisters’ School, where she sang with the choir and played basketball. She loved art, a hobby which eventually led to a career in design. In 1969, Eileen left Hong Kong for Canada, where she attended Langley High School, graduating in 1971 with her high school diploma and the honor of Graduate of the Year. She moved to San José to attend San José State University, where she would graduate in 1976 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design. A partnership in design with a college friend, briefly led to work in the field of design. Eileen’s personable nature and excellent customer service skills made her an instant success at Aaron Brothers Art Marts, where she began as a sales associate and quickly made her way up the ladder, gaining notable recognition in branch management at several stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was a natural transition to go from one type of customer service to another when Eileen began working for San José Unified School District, where she worked for fifteen years before retiring in 2017. A staunch San Francisco Giants fan, Eileen could always be relied upon to know the latest scores, the most up-to-date statistics, and a healthy opinion on how the team was being managed. She would listen to the games while she puttered around in the back yard of the home that she and younger sister Anne-Marie shared, and there was no greater day for her than the day the Giants won the 2010 World Series! Eileen loved to laugh! Many a happy hour was spent watching television comedies, looking at Facebook videos and pictures, and enjoying the antics of the family cats. She also loved music; the Beatles were at the top of the hit parade, but she also knew the lyrics to many oldies, classic American standards, and musicals. Like her entire family, Eileen loved to go to the casinos! Some of her most memorable travels included trips to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, but she really loved her visits to Red Hawk Casino. When she couldn’t get there, she enjoyed playing slot games on her trusty iPad. When Eileen discovered the magic of social media, long-forgotten friends from Hong Kong were rediscovered, and old friendships rekindled. She found great joy and satisfaction in reconnecting with the “Magnificent 7,” a group of dear childhood friends from Hong Kong, as well as staying in touch with friends near and far. Eileen reveled in a good meal; she didn’t just enjoy eating, but she loved to cook as well. She made a terrific wor mein, and could whip a up a meal without a recipe faster than anyone around. She loved a good cup of coffee, a bowl of guacamole, and baby back ribs…not necessarily in that order. However, the greatest joy that Eileen experienced was the time that she spent in the garden…it didn’t matter whose garden, as long as she had her hands in the dirt. A master gardener, plants thrived in Eileen’s care. She was best-known for taking the long-neglected plants of colleagues and breathing new life into them, then returning them to their owners. Her breadth of knowledge about all things green was well-known throughout the neighborhood, where her expertise was inspiring to all who strolled by. She enhanced her knowledge by watching just about any gardening show ever produced, and was always generous in her willingness to share her skills with anyone who requested them. One of Eileen’s greatest qualities was her helpful nature. She could always be depended upon to lend a hand to those in need, no matter the task. She was a great supporter of the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, as well as the Arbor Day Foundation, and whenever or wherever it was needed, she was always first in line to lend her support. Eileen unexpectedly left us on October 31, 2018. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Paul. She is survived by Maureen, Kathryn and Anne-Marie. Eileen departed this life far too soon, but her spirit of kindness and generosity will live on forever in the lives of those she touched.
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