Eileen Killeen Maron

Eileen Killeen Maron passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at her home in Decatur, Georgia, on Aug. 27, 2023. She was 67 years old.

As admissions director for St. Thomas More School (STM) in Decatur for more than 20 years, she was credited by many families for being the first face of the school they met, and her cheerful enthusiasm was part of the reason they chose to become STM families. After the school announced her death on Aug. 28, it received more than 150 emails from families.

Eileen was born Dec. 17, 1955, in Suffern, New York, to Tom and Mary Killeen. She was one of six very close siblings: Tom, Patty, Eileen, Michael, Kevin, and Kerry. Her family nicknamed her Big "I", because she was so small.

She grew up in Ramsey, New Jersey; Dunwoody, Georgia; and Ringwood, New Jersey. From an early age she showed artistic abilities, and her joy in creating art was a thread that ran through her life.

She attended the University of Georgia and graduated with a degree in art education in 1977. While at UGA she met the love of her life, Bill Maron, and they married in 1980. They moved to Decatur in 1982 and put down

permanent roots. Their lives were blessed with the birth of Meagan Killeen Maron in 1982 and Patricia Collis Maron in 1986.

In the '80s, Eileen sold insurance for Pacific Life Insurance Company, was co-leader of separate Girl Scout troops for Meagan and Patty and volunteered at St. Thomas More.

In 1993, she changed careers and started as a second-grade teaching para-professional at STM. After a few years, she was asked to work in the front office as one of the so-called LOLs ("Lovely Office Ladies"): part secretary, part admissions clerk and frequent loose tooth puller.

That soon blossomed into a new, larger job, director of admissions, in which she was the gateway for all new families applying to attend STM. She also oversaw the financial aid program and found ways to help many families that were in need of tuition assistance. Over the years, she helped multiple generations of STM families.

While at STM, she was part of the founding of the Friday Afternoon Margarita Club, a group of teachers and staff who were regulars at the Universal Joint in Decatur. Eventually, students they had taught grew up and served them their drinks.

Eileen's art was a constant in her life. In the '80s, she entered an Atlanta Braves poster-drawing contest and won two awards. In the '90s she enrolled in pottery classes at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and began her specialty of creating what she called "people pots." She worked in the Callanwolde studio and eventually her own home studio for years, and sold many of her sculptures at the Decatur and Virginia-Highland Arts Festivals. She gave away as many as she sold to friends and loved ones.

She and Bill served as volunteer starters for the Peachtree Road Race, were regulars at Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons games, and gathered extended family together in rental houses in Fort Morgan, Alabama, every summer.

She was pre-deceased by her husband Bill and sister Kerry.

Survivors include daughters Meagan and Patty; son-in-law Josh Carley; siblings Kevin Killeen, Michael Killeen (Jane), Patty Brickell and Tom Killeen (Maureen); many nieces and nephews, and a grandson to be named later, whom she was overjoyed to know was on the way.

The family will hold a wake from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, at A. S. Turner & Sons, 2773 N Decatur Rd, Decatur, Georgia.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday Sept 2, 2023, at St. Thomas More Church, 636 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, Georgia, followed by a reception at the church's Mulhern Hall, where people will be invited to share memories and stories.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Thomas More tuition assistance fund. Information is available here: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/w-BURb0WOzc3cdxtgIsi-A