Eileen Weakley peacefully passed away on April 6, 2026. Eileen was born on January 9, 1933, in Daniels County, Montana, to Joseph and Mary (Mackay) Kritzer. She grew up in Montana; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and Spokane, Washington. Eileen—affectionately known as Tootsie to her family—cherished her bond with her older brother, John (Jackie) Kritzer, and her younger sister, Margaret (Peggy) Ramos. During the Great Depression, her family moved throughout the Northwest in search of work and opportunity. As a preteen, Eileen was involved in Girl Scouts, and in the summers she and her younger sister rode the bus to the Spokane Valley to pick raspberries (earning 0.45 per flat) and cherries to save spending money. A devoted Catholic, she took her siblings to church on Sundays.

Eileen graduated from Marycliff High School in Spokane in 1950. Soon after, she followed her father and her brother Jackie to the promising jobs at the Hanford site, moving to Richland to work as a secretary for General Electric. She lived in the workers’ dormitory and became part of a lively sorority of young women who were also working at Hanford.

It was in Richland that Eileen met the love of her life, Everett (Ev) Weakley, in 1951. Ev was a chemical engineer who worked primarily in reactor fuel element production. They were married in 1953 at Christ the King Church, where they remained devoted parishioners for many years. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, family, and steadfast devotion. Eileen is now reunited with Ev, her beloved husband of 70 years, who passed away in 2021.

Eileen’s greatest joy and fulfillment came from her children and family. She was the devoted mother of 7 children, 17 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren (with two on the way!). There were always children—both family and friends—filling her home with laughter and life. When her youngest started elementary school, she began caring for her grandchildren, and soon for other neighborhood kids who needed a safe, loving place to land. “Grandma’s house” was always bustling: Eileen preparing meals, reading stories, and swinging with the kids on her porch swing.

Eileen participated in many affiliations throughout her life, rooted always in her strong Catholic faith and her desire to quietly serve others. She found strength in daily Mass, praying the rosary, and gathering with prayer groups and Bible studies. She was a charter member of the Young Ladies Institute at Christ the King, joining in 1955 and serving as president for multiple terms in the 1980s. YLI’s mission is to support their Catholic Church community and those in need, and Eileen put that mission into action in countless ways—rolling bandages for leper colonies; hosting bake sales to support seminarians; and helping strengthen the Christ the King community by organizing fun luaus and style shows. During her years as president, she was instrumental, along with Ev, in starting “Octoberfest,” a fundraiser for CK school that continues today (now known as SausageFest). She also shared her faith through Chore Services, providing housekeeping for the elderly; teaching in the Couple to Couple League; supporting the Right to Life organization; volunteering at the Birthright crisis pregnancy center; and participating in Cursillo retreats, Catholic Bible studies, and the non-denominational Bible Study Fellowship.

Eileen delighted in life’s simple joys and the people she shared them with. She loved square dancing with the Columbia River Square Dancers and Road Runners, staying active at the Columbia Basin Racquet Club, and hosting lively card games that brought friends and family together around the table. She loved to pick fruit and can it, joining various gleaning groups throughout the years. An avid reader, she joined book clubs and happily shared this love of reading with her children. She also treasured time outdoors, organizing fishing and camping adventures to the mountains with family and dear friends—especially trips to Lake Jubilee, where her grandchildren loved camping with her and still smile at the fun memories they made together. Later, she discovered the fun of cruising to Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean with Everett and good friends—making memories she talked about for years.

Eileen will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her sister, Peggy; her children: Steven (Karen), Kathleen (Michael Schweiger), Michael, Theresa, Joseph (Maria), Mary (Greg Funk), and Joy (Matthew Bailey); and by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

On behalf of Eileen’s family, a celebration of her life will be a funeral mass at Christ the King Church in Richland, WA, April 27, at 10:30 am, with a reception to follow. Donations in her memory can be made to the Young Ladies Institute.