GROVELAND: Eileen F. (Boner) Shanahan, 93, the matriarch of five generations passed away on Sunday, June 17, 2012 after a period of declining health at Penacook Place in Haverhill. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Joseph W. Shanahan with whom she shared forty-five years of marriage with.
Eileen was born in Haverhill on August 28, 1918 and was the daughter of the late Frederick J. and Florence P. (Lanen) Boner. She was educated in Bradford schools and attended Groveland High School.
As a young woman she worked for several years at the former Western Electric and also as a receptionist for Roger’s Studio in Haverhill. Eileen was an active member of St. Patrick’s Parish and belonged to the Catholic Daughters of America.
She was an avid Red Sox and Patriot’s fan through the years. Eileen was known to place a bet or two on the weekly football pool and won many times. After the death of her husband she decided to gain her independence and enrolled in driving school and at the age of sixty-three, she became a licensed driver for the first time. She enjoyed many driving trips around New England with her family and friends and ended her week with Friday lunches with the “lunch bunch”. Eileen’s family was of the utmost importance to her and she will be remembered for her devotion, care and love that she showed to all of them over the years. The Shanahan family would like to thank the staff at Penacook Place for the exceptional care they gave to Eileen during her stay there.
She is survived by her five devoted daughters, Patricia E. and her husband, Richard Francis of Raymond, NH, Maureen A. Roberts of Methuen, Geraldine M. and her husband, Richard Wasilewski of Adams, MA. Jean E. and her husband, Alan Lord of Groveland and Kathleen M. and her husband, David Kervin of Groveland; a loving son, Timothy F. Shanahan of Haverhill; nineteen grandchildren, Richard, Joanne, Mary, Theresa, Michelle, Jennifer, Joseph, Christine, Donna, David, Karen, Susan, Tracy, Timothy, Colleen, Brian, Patrick, Katelyn and Shanley; twenty-six great-grandchildren, Kelly, Valerie, Brandon, Rachel, Jared, Greg, Megan, Spencer, Evan, Nora, Matthew, Jeffrey, Hunter, Ryan, Katie, Douglas, Makena, Jack, Joseph, Matthew, Juliet, Alex, Dylan, Caleb, Shamus and Delaney; three great-great grandchildren, Jonathan, Kyle and Ryan; two sisters-in-law, Mary (Shanahan) Cleary of Bradford and Betty (Rice) Shanahan of Haverhill. She was also predeceased by her son, Joseph W. Shanahan, Jr., her grandson, Steven J. Lord and her two brothers, Gerald and James Boner.
A funeral Mass for Eileen will be celebrated on Friday in St. Patrick’s Church, 114 Center St., Groveland at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill from 4 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in St. James Cemetery, Primrose St., Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, donations in Eileen’s memory can be made to Penacook Place, c/o “Employee Fund” 150 Water Street, Haverhill, MA. 01830 or to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, P.O. Box 78960, Phoenix, AZ. 85062-8960.