Eileen Frances Eikelboom passed away on September 23, 2026, at Baptist South in the Community Hospice in Jacksonville, FL. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Eileen spent her life caring for others and making the people around her feel loved.

She was the sweetest of women—kindhearted, loving, and, as her family would say, someone who never had an enemy. She was so much fun and so full of life. Her husband, Paul, described her best: when she walked into a room, she was magic.

Eileen and Paul married in June 1975 and shared more than 51 years of marriage. At the heart of her life was her family: her husband; her three sons, Paul, William, and James; her daughter, Tami; and her eight grandchildren. To Tami, she was more than a mother. She was her forever best friend.

A registered nurse throughout her working life, Eileen devoted herself to caring for people. Her career included nursing work with the New England Patriots and the Boston Marathon while employed by Prudential Insurance Company in Boston. She spent more than 30 years with Baptist and helped open Baptist South—the same hospital where her granddaughter Jaiden was born and where Eileen spent her final moments. She especially loved being with her patients. Nursing gave her a way to share what came naturally to her: kindness, compassion, and a desire to help.

Eileen also leaves a cherished group of lifelong friends whose friendship began in grammar school. Through all the years and changes of life, they remained part of one another’s stories. Those friendships held a special place in her heart.

Eileen is survived by her beloved husband, Paul; her children, Paul, William, James, and Tami; her eight grandchildren; and her brother, Bobby. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Stephen and John.

Her family and friends will miss the care she gave so freely, the fun of being with her, and the way she could light up a room simply by walking into it. Above all, they will miss her—their wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and best friend. To be loved by Eileen was a gift they will carry for the rest of their lives.