Eileen Combo

Eileen (Sullivan) Combo - surrounded by her family, peacefully passed away on January 20th 2011 in Boise, Idaho from complications attributed to a stroke. The long time Idaho Falls resident and Butte Montana native was 88 years old at the time of her passing. Eileen was born April 12th, 1922 in Butte, Montana to Tim and Mary Sullivan. Eileen was the eldest of 4 children – twins Dave and Tim, and youngest brother John. Eileen graduated from Girls Central High School in Butte where she was crowned the popular, Miss Centralite, during her senior year. She was also a fabulous Irish step dancer. She attended the University of Montana in Missoula and when WWII started Eileen returned to Butte where she worked as a key punch operator. In December of 1947, she married John (Jack) Combo also of Butte. Eileen and Jack moved to Washington, DC where two of their six children were born. Eileen worked part-time for a congressman on Capitol Hill while Jack finished his law degree at Georgetown University. After law school, they moved to Grand Junction, Colorado where they spent nearly a decade with Jack working for the Atomic Energy Commission. Eileen had her hands full raising six children, driving them to school, to swimming lessons and other sports activities, making school lunches every day, planning vacations to great places like Disneyland, organizing picnics and generally being an awesome mother. Four more children were born there. In 1962, the Combo family moved to Idaho Falls when Jack was transferred by the AEC. Eileen resided in the same house until her passing. Throughout her nearly 50 years in Idaho Falls, Eileen was a very active member and volunteer at Christ the King Catholic Church, even serving as President of the Altar Society. She also was a volunteer for many years at Sacred Heart Hospital. Eileen was a frequent volunteer at her children’s school, Holy Rosary Catholic School, even teaching P.E. classes during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Eileen and her husband helped start the Idaho Falls High School Booster Club in the early 70’s. She attended almost all of her children’s events whether it was football, basketball, track or baseball. Eileen worked for a number of years at Lamonts Department store which was part of the Yellowstone Mall. She worked in the lingerie section most of those years, often getting a request from a friend or family member to see some glamorous outfit modeled by the store clerk in that department, which always produced a laugh. Eileen’s nature was to help and give service to others and was very selfless her entire life. This past summer, Eileen sponsored a family reunion at Fairmont Hot Springs in Montana and she was truly in all her glory with her family, relatives and friends around her. One evening, she sang and danced the now infamous “S-U-L-L-I-V-A-N” number that had her lucky audience laughing and cheering at the same time. American Idol would have called had they known. Eileen also rented a touring bus that took everyone, including all the grandkids whom she loved so much, around a tour of Butte; all the while sharing her memories and stories over the years of that beloved city where she was born and raised. Eileen was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, John (Jack) Combo and her three brothers Tim, Dave and John. She is survived by her six children and their families – John (Jeanne) and son Marcus (Marie) from Phoenix, AZ; Mary Ellen (Jeff) and daughter Marissa from Olympia, WA; Bill (Trisha) and children Jake, Josh, Kian and Keeley from Idaho Falls; Kathryn (Mike) and daughter Diamond from Boise; Jamey (Sandy) and children Chris, Nick, Taylor and Rachel from Coeur d’Alene; and Brian (Annette) and children Siera, Payton and Alexis from Minneapolis, MN. Eileen was a loving, caring, and giving wife, mother and grandmother who was truly a friend to all who met her. Although she was jokingly known to have unintentionally mispronounced every establishment known to mankind and have you guessing which “thing” she was referring to during any given conversation; she had a heart of gold the size of a mountain and was the very definition of giving that knew no end. Her passion for life was evident in everything she did. When the music came on her feet began tapping. We are only immortal through the lives of those we touch and in the gifts we leave behind. Eileen Sullivan Combo will be forever immortalized in all the people whose lives she touched with her loving and giving nature. You will be missed Mom, Grandma and Friend!!! Thanks for the fun ride. Funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 28, 2011, at Christ the King Catholic Church (1690 East 17th St.) with Father Raul Covarrubias officiating. The family will visit with friends on Thursday from 6-7:15 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge. A Rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. following the visitation at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at Fielding Memorial Park. A celebration of Eileen's life will be held following the services on Friday at the Shilo Inn (780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls) In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Idaho Falls Hockey Association, P.O. Box 1592, Idaho Falls, ID 83403-1592 or your favorite charity.

Funeral Mass - Friday

1:00 p.m. ,Friday, January 28, 2011 Christ the King Catholic Church (on the corner of 17th & Woodruff) 1696 E. 17th Street Idaho Falls, ID 83404 Notes: The family will visit with friends Thursday evening from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Avenue, followed by a Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Inurnment will be at Fielding Memorial Park.