Keohane Funeral Home

Kilfoyle, Eleanor M. (Coffey) of Hull, June 9, 2004. Beloved Wife of the late Richard M. Kilfoyle. Loving Mother of Maureen T. and her husband Francis Landrey of NY, Michael and his Wife Nancy of ID, Marguerite L. of Weymouth, Richard and his Wife Isabel of Tewksbury, Eleanor Derby Kilfoyle and her Husband Christopher of VT, Barbara Hunt and her Husband George of Scotland, Regina of London and James and his Wife Susan of TX. Sister of Rev. James H. Coffey of Cambridge and the late John Coffey. Sister in law of Maryellen Coffey of NY and Mary Cox of Salem. Also survived by 11 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Widow of the late South Shore orthopedic surgeonRichard M. Kilfoyle, M.D. She died at the age of 83 from Alzheimer’s disease. The third child and only daughter of James and Estelle Coffey, Eleanor was born athome in Jamaica Plain on November 15, 1920. The family later moved to West Roxbury where Eleanor was an active parishioner of Holy Name Church. She attended Mission High School and was secretary of her class at Regis College where she graduated in 1942 with a degree in home economics. By that time World War II was underway, and although not allowed by her parents to take up nursing studies at Yale University, where she had been accepted, she nevertheless volunteered three evenings each week for the duration of the war as a nurses aid at the New England Baptist Hospital. She maintained a keen interest in health and medicine throughout her life. Until her marriage, she also worked full time as a sewing teacher in the Boston public schools. In 1947 she married Richard M. Kilfoyle, M.D., who was then a surgical resident-in-training. In 1951 the couple moved to the South Shore – principally in Weymouth as well as in Milton and Marshfield – where they raised their eight children. A talented homemaker and a devoted wife and mother, Eleanor also was the caregiver through the years for any family member suffering from serious illness, including her husband, children, mother, brother, father-in-law, aunt-in-law and brother-in-law. In retirement she and her husband moved permanently to the family summer home in Hull. A devout Catholic, Eleanor had been active in Hull’s St. Mary of the Assumption Parish and a volunteer at the parish-sponsored charity, Wellspring.Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM Saturday at 8 AM. Funeral Mass in Saint Ann’s Church, Hull at 9 AM. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 PM. Burial in Hull Village Cemetery, Hull. Donations in memory of Mrs. Kilfoyle may be made to Harbor House Resident Activities Fund 11 Condito Rd., Hingham, MA 02043.