Eileen Schindler, 84, born Eileen Gloria Umansky, died peacefully on September 9, 2021, surrounded by family. Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, Hyman and Blanche Umansky, and her older sister Sheila Weissman.
Eileen was born on June 15, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York. Her family moved to Georgetown in Washington D.C. when she was two years old and moved back to Brooklyn when she was eight. As a young girl, Eileen loved playing the piano and playing ball, and had a fondness for the Brooklyn Dodgers. At the age of sixteen, Eileen graduated from high school and went to work for Women’s Day Magazine. She then was offered a job working at the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Publicity Center.
At nineteen, Eileen married her first husband, Howard Weissinger, and was blessed with her three sons. After the children were older, Eileen greatly enjoyed working in the medical field, at hospitals and managing doctor’s offices. At forty-five, Eileen married the love of her life, Warren Schindler, in a Brooklyn Synagogue. They soon moved to Boca Raton, Florida, where they enjoyed an active life with many friends. During this time, Eileen led and directed a singing and performing group of 80 seniors, called “The Choraliers”. She wrote songs and parodies, and played the piano. They performed in large venues of 600+ and also shared their talents at care facilities and retirement communities. Even though Eileen did not read music, she could play anything by ear on the organ and piano.
After Warren’s passing, Eileen moved to Idaho in 2004 to be near Brian, Kim, and their family, and has lived next door to them for the last 17 years in Hidden Springs. For many years, Eileen played delightful show tunes and melodies on the piano on Tuesday evenings at the Dry Creek Mercantile. She also shared her musical talents at local nursing homes and care facilities, as well as writing and playing songs for her grandchildren…spreading joy to all through her music.
In addition to Eileen’s musical talents, she loved to cook…especially soups! She always posed the question to visitors…”have you eaten yet?” . Eileen was also generous in her charitable givings and to those around her.
Eileen is survived by her three sons, Steve and his wife Lilly (CA), their children Kevin and Sophia, Rick and his fiancé Glenda (GA), his children Aneissa and Annie, and Brian and his wife Kim (ID), and their children, Luke, Nathaniel, and Christina; her daughter-in-law, Babette (OK); and her other “children and grandchildren” whom she grafted into her family, Stuart (AZ), Kevin (ME), and Alex (HI).
Eileen was proud of her sons and their families and always looked forward to family reunions and holiday visits. We will greatly miss Eileen, our mother, grandmother, and friend.