Eileen M. Collier

With deepest sadness we announce that Eileen Marie (nee Kuss) Collier of Upper Saddle River, NJ passed on to her eternal rest peacefully in her sleep at home on February 28, 2024 surrounded by her family. A mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Eileen was a beacon shining her light of loving support to her family and friends. She grew up in Hackensack and as a young girl often attended Broadway shows (courtesy of her uncle who was president of Theater Union #1), as well as movies where a young Frank Sinatra  performed in between features. She attended dancing school and appeared in a short movie as part of a tap dancing line; she later received a pair of dancing shoes as a gift from the great actor Bert Lahr, who was a friend of her uncle. She also ice skated with a very young Dick Button at a skating rink in Englewood. Eileen went on to attend the College of New Rochelle on an art scholarship, where she majored in Fine Arts. During high school she met the love of her life, Andrew, and after college they married in 1951; their love was deeper than the deepest sea and as constant as the North Star during their 65 years of marriage. Friends would comment on how they always were holding hands wherever they went.  A talented artist whose cherished works grace the walls of many, Eileen raised their family of six children while letting her Catholic faith speak through her constant and gentle positivity. She shepherded her children through school, always there to correct homework and offer guidance. Later she managed the family’s travel agency for many years and enjoyed vacationing in Barbados and the Jersey shore; an avid traveler she instilled a love of travel in her children. Back home, she enjoyed gardening, skiing, golfing, ice skating, playing Hawaiian steel guitar and fields of sunflowers, and was a voracious reader and later e-reader. She especially loved the sound of little children’s happy voices filling her home.

Eileen will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. She is survived by her loving children and their spouses: Dr. Andrew J. & Kathy Collier, Dr. Paul E. & Nancy P. Collier, Peter D. Collier, Esq & Mary Beth Roemer-Collier, James F. & Donna Collier, John P. Collier, Ph.D. & Nancy Collier, and Eileen (Collier) Geraghty. She leaves behind 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial will take place at The Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River on Tuesday, March 5 at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Eileen’s name to UNICEF, Covenant House, Missionaries of Charity or St. Anthony’s Guild.

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