Eileen S. (Stearns) Griffin

Eileen Stearns Griffin, 76, passed away on November 5, 2023 at Douglas Manor after a prolonged fight with dementia.

Eileen was born in Lynn, MA on October 15, 1947. She and her family lived in various homes around New England and New York as her father held a job with a large construction company. After her family arrived in Willimantic in the 1960s, she attended and graduated from Windham High School. Following graduation she became a secretary in the Department of Plant Science at UConn, where she met and then married her husband Gary Griffin in 1967.

After the births of her son Michael in 1968 and daughter Jennifer in 1971, Eileen decided to continue her education. She started at Manchester Community College, earned a BA at Trinity College, and a MSW at the UConn School of Social Work in 1993.

While Eileen enjoyed her career as a licensed social worker, she also volunteered in several areas. She participated in Willington town projects, Storrs Congregational Church activities, and was a proud member of Altrusa.

Eileen was an accomplished photographer with a specialty in landscapes. Her extensive travels are displayed in her photography, including three trips to New Zealand, a trip to France, and a trip to Budapest. One of Eileen’s favorite places to visit and take photographs was her summer residence for decades, the Griffin Camp in Northern Lake George, New York.

Eileen is survived by her husband of 56 years Gary Griffin (Willington), son Michael and wife Kimberly (Ashford), daughter Jennifer Eldridge (Coventry), granddaughters Megan Griffin (Vernon) and Samantha Eldridge (Coventry), and former son-in-law Douglas Eldridge (Willington). Additional survivors are sister Carla Kelly (New Hampshire), brother Barry Stearns and wife Kathy (Bolton), brother Peter Stearns and husband Robert Elkinson (Atlanta) and many nieces and nephews. Eileen was predeceased by her parents Ralph and Gertrude Stearns, sister Cynthia Reeves, and grandson Jared Griffin.

Her family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers who cared for Eileen over the past few years, including Amouy Palmer and the staff at Douglas Manor. 

Eileen’s family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday, November 12, 2023 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. Willimantic, CT. Her funeral service will be held on Monday, November 13 at 10:00am at Potter Funeral Home. The burial will follow at Willington Hill Cemetery. Her family invites all to gather after the burial to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Altrusa International, Northeastern Connecticut, P.O. Box 825, Storrs, CT 06250, or to a charity of one’s choice.

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