Obituary of Eileen M. Richards

Eileen M. Richards, long-time resident of Prospect Street, Madison, NJ, passed-away on Sunday, January 19, 2025, surrounded by family and friends at the Memory Care Unit of The Delaney, Florham Park, NJ.

Eileen is survived by her husband, Robert (Bob), two sons, Matthew (Debbie) and Ryan (Julie), and Grandchildren Sean Patrick, Teagan, Maggie and Ryan. She was predeceased by her baby sister Mary Ann, sister Joan, and her brother Jack.

Family and friends are welcome to gather on Friday, January 24, 2025 from 4-7pm at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main Street, Madison, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated (and livestreamed) on Saturday, January 25, 2025, 10:00AM, by Very Rev. Canon Owen B. Moran, ChM, Pastor, St. Vincent Martyr Parish, and The Reverend Monsignor George F. Hundt, Pastor, St. Gerard Majella Parish, and former Pastor of St. Vincent Martyr Parish. (If you wish to attend Eileen's Funeral Mass virtually, you may do so by visiting: https://svmnj.org/livestream-mass.) Internment will immediately follow at St. Vincent Martyr Cemetery, Madison, NJ.

Eileen, dearly loved by family and friends, never had an unkind word to say about anyone, or anything. She steered her family with enduring faith, love, laughter, and friendship. She was also the eternal optimist – the glass was always (more than) half-full. She was an absolute gift to all who knew her, and she was like a rocket: she lifted people up when they were down.

Eileen loved her many years singing with the St. Vincent’s Church choir, and serving with the Ministry for the Sick and Homebound at St. Vincent’s. Her love for the Madison Garden Club and its members was second to none. She loved floral arranging, for which she won several national and local awards.

Prior to moving to Madison, Eileen had a successful career in business ranging from Executive Asst./Office of the President, U.S. Rubber Co./Uniroyal, to clothing and footwear model for Uniroyal at the 1964-65 World’s Fair, to establishing a national retail sales reputation and customer following with Talbots on Madison Ave., NYC, and Short Hills, NJ. She is remembered and thanked by countless customers the world over for being their “clothing coach of choice.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eileen’s memory to St. Vincent Martyr Parish, Madison, NJ, or to The Garden Club of Madison, NJ, for which Eileen’s family thanks you.