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JOIN US IN A CELEBRATION OF EILEEN'S LIFE ON SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015:
Service at 11:00am at Calvary Church, Episcopal, 27-33 Church Street, Stonington
Followed by a memorial luncheon and sharing of Eileen stories at 12 Noon at the Bishop's Cove Clubhouse, 1 Club Drive, Mystic located off Route 1 towards Stonington between Big Y and bike shop.
Everyone is welcome at either or both celebrations.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mystic-Noank Library or the Cancer Research Institute at cancerresearch.org.
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Eileen K. Doolittle, known for her grace, style and intelligence, was an artist and poet, mother, wife and friend, who passed away at Mystic Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center on June 10, 2015 after a brave four-year struggle with cancer.
Eileen Doolittle was born in Baltimore, Maryland on Nov. 30, 1935. She was the daughter of Eileen Noctor Kavanagh and Captain Hugh Ignatius Kavanagh Jr. of the Maryland State Police.
She graduated from the institute of Notre Dame, in Baltimore, and studied art at the Art Institute of Maryland, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minn., and Monserrat College of Art in Massachusetts. In her early years she worked for the Sun Papers in Baltimore and briefly for the Peace Corps staff. She was a supporter of civil rights, women’s rights and non-violence. She loved to donate children’s toys and clothing at Christmas, and was a supporter of the Navy Relief Fund.
Eileen was a 35 year resident of Mystic. As well as an artist, Eileen was a great friend, decorator and hostess who made many people feel welcome in her home and warmed by her attention and cooking. She read widely and enjoyed travel and art films, and taking care of her property on Cedar Road and other homes, and then having the lawn mowed at Bishops Cove. She was a long time member of Stitch and Bitch, a luncheon club of ladies who liked to do both.
She also lived in Annapolis, Minneapolis, Saratoga, Ipswich, and Haverford, as the family moved in support of Mr. Doolittle’s career. Over the years of this trek, she made many friendships that have endured.
Described as the Poet Painter in Newsweek, her paintings are in a number of private collections and have been exhibited in shows and galleries in Maryland, Minnesota, Saratoga, Marblehead, Haverford, and Boston.
Her career also included commercial art projects as well as the publication of three books that feature her art and poetry created in collaboration with her creative partner internationally acclaimed photographer Starr Ockenga.
These three beautiful books educated children and amused their indulging grandparents. The books are “The Ark and the Attic” – a letters book, “World of Wonders, a numbers book, and “Then and Now”, a book of days. “The Ark in the Attic” was the basis for an exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Boston. Eileen read the books to children in the local schools in Mystic.
Eileen’s contributions to these books included the poetic texts that guided the readers through the illustrations, as well as the painted backgrounds that form the stage for the objects on the page.
Together she and Starr assembled three dimensional objects that fit the background, and the Starr created the photographs that make up the pages of the book.
Eileen’s children and friends were central to her life. Her children are artists whose lives are committed to creativity on many levels. Kathy is a painter, while David is a painter and author.
Eileen’s life was deeply enriched by her two grandchildren, River and Sole’, who visited frequently, and absolutely adored their Grandmother
Eileen is survived by her daughter Katherine Parker, of New York City, her son David S. Parker, Jr., two grandchildren, River John Pierre Parker and Sole’ Eileen Juliet Parker, and their mother Mme Isabelle Diane
Parker of Coulobres, France. She is also survived by her two of her three
beloved brothers, Kevin Kavanagh and Hugh Ignatius Kavanagh III. Her brother
Terrence Kavanagh died in 1986 after a long battle with traumatic brain injury.
She is also survived by her close cousin Mary Pat Hanley. Mary Pat was like a
sister from their adolescent years until the end.
She is also survived by her ex-husband and devoted companion, John T. Doolittle, who was her principal caregiver for the four-year battle.
In addition she is survived by Hugh’s wife Joy, by Hildegard Kavanagh, the widow of Eileen’s late brother Terry. and her sisters-in-law, Audrey Whittemore of Hamden, and Georgia McDowell of Pawley’s Island, South Carolina.
In addition she is survived by a large contingent of cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and one great-grand niece.
Her last days were eased by the dedicated attentiveness of her daughter, Katherine Delia Parker, and by the care of a wide circle of friends who had accompanied her on her journey. Her son David was also able to spend valuable time with her near the end in spite of personal obligations at home in France.
For much of the past four years she has been supported by the dedicated and caring staff of the Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology Center in Norwich. Eileen was well tended to in the final weeks by the staff at Backus Hospital and the Mystic Rehabilitation and Medical Care Facility.
A Memorial Service for Eileen will be held in July and will be announced in the New London Day and on this website.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Mystic Noank Library.
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with her family, please click the link below.