Obituary of Eileen Mary O'Gara
Eileen Mary O’Gara (nee Battle) passed away on September 16, 2022 at home surrounded by her family.
Eileen was born in July 1954 in Brooklyn, New York to Thomas and Eileen (Ormsby) Battle and raised in Brooklyn Heights. At 19 she married John Joseph O'Gara and spent the next 22 years living in East Orange, Orange and then West Orange, NJ. Eileen worked as a nurse and later a nursing supervisor at Columbus Hospital in Newark, NJ. She finished up her career working as a hospice nurse with Compassionate Care in Dover, NJ. She moved to Hopatcong and lived there many years before moving in with her daughter, Erin and her family for the last 2 1/2 years.
Eileen was a great hostess and loved having parties over the years. She hosted the holidays and was always having people over the house. Eileen never forgot her roots and went to Brooklyn every weekend to visit her family, who mostly were all still there. She enjoyed vacations and travel for many years while her health permitted. Eileen loved music and was a great dancer. She loved home renovation shows and Hallmark movies. Eileen enjoyed reading, was an avid news watcher and was always up on current events and pop culture.
Eileen was predeceased by her husband, John "John-Joe" O’Gara; her father, Thomas Battle; her mother, Eileen (Ormsby) Battle; and her brothers, William "Willy", John, and Thomas "Tommy" Battle; her dear sister, Helen Christoforou; her beloved sisters-in-law, Leslie Carlisle, Sally Kelleher, and Catherine "Kay" Prior; her brothers in-law, Peter O’Gara and Mort Kelleher; and her second love, John Nepa.
Eileen is survived by her daughter, Maureen O’Gara-Bamert (Keith); her sons, James "Jimmy", and John Paul "JP" O’Gara; her daughter, Erin O’Gara-Meier (Steve); her loved to the moon and back grandchildren, Ryan and Mark Bamert; Stephanie "Stevie" and Anthony Meier; John Paul "JJ" Dimano; Finley Eileen O’Gara; Heather Grace, Erik, Lukas and Maria Battle; and Taylor Hughes.
She is also survived by her brothers in-law, Tommy and Brian "Bernie" O’Gara; and her sisters in-law, Maisie and Celia O’Gara; her cherished nieces and goddaughters Barbara (Battle) Ferrara (Joe); and Christine O’Gara-Mazzacca (Marc); and her nephew Bill (Willy as only she called him) Battle; countless cousins and many cherished friends. Eileen also leaves behind her Sadie Girl, who was a constant companion of her "Nina" and will miss being spoiled with doggie treats and watching General Hospital together.
Visitation will be Tuesday, September 20th from 3:00 to 7:00pm at Codey Funeral Home of Caldwell. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Our Lady of Mercy Church, Whippany on Wednesday, September 21st at 10:30am, followed by the burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.
We are sure Mom will be surrounded by many flowers. However, if you wish to make a donation in her name instead, please consider donating locally to The Dean Michael Clarizio Cancer Foundation, 10 Connell Drive, West Orange, NJ 07052 or to
ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. It would bring Eileen so much joy to know that beyond her passing she was still helping people.