Obituary of Mary Eileen Dempsey

M. Eileen Dempsey, 89, of Blythewood, South Carolina, passed away August 30, 2023 at her residence, after a long illness.  She was born on February 2, 1934 in Elizabeth, New Jersey to John Michael and Mary Isabel (MacLaren) Sullivan.  

A few years after their marriage in 1956, she and her husband Jack relocated to Carteret, NJ, where they raised their family until their retirement in 1988. They then moved to Holiday City in Toms River, NJ.  They remained there until her husband's passing in 2014 and she then relocated to South Carolina with her daughter in 2018. 

Eileen is survived by:

Her daughters, Coleen Pierre of Blythewood, SC and Jacqueline Wendt of Howell, NJ.  Seven surviving grandchildren, Allyson, Justin and Paul Pierre, Shawna (Pierre) Lanier, Amanda (Dempsey) Matthews, and Christopher and Jenna Wendt. 

Thirteen great grandchildren- Brittany, Brandon and Shane Davis, Emory and Jayden Lanier,  Zavier Blake, Riley and Liam Pierre, Gavin Pierre, Cheyenne, Angela and Donnie Matthews and Emily Dempsey.  One great-grandson, Landon Davis, in addition to her cherished nephews, nieces, cousins and numerous friends.

Eileen was a parishioner of Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church in Blythewood, SC, as well as a very proud member of the Columbiettes Catholic Women's Organization. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Isabel Sullivan; her brothers, Charles, Robert and John Sullivan; her husband of 58 years, John (Jack) Dempsey in 2014;  her grandson, Brian John Dempsey in 2005; her son, Brian James Dempsey in 2007; her granddaughter, Jessica Dempsey in 2016, and her daughter-in law, Janine (Hundemann) Dempsey in 2017.

The family will receive friends at Thompson Funeral Home, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209 on September 11, 2023 from 6pm to 8pm.  Funeral services will be at Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church, Blythewood, SC on September 12, 2023 at 10am.  Interment will be out of State at St. Gertrude Cemetery & Mausoleum, Colonia, New Jersey.

Mrs. Dempsey's fervent wish was for no floral tributes be sent to her please.  In lieu of flowers, she asked that any donations please be made to one of her favorite charities:

St. Jude's Children's Hospital at https://childrenscancer.org/

Columbiettes Catholic Women's Organization

C/O Transfiguration Catholic Church 

306 North Pines Road, 

Blythewood SC 29016