Eileen O’Brien, age 84, of Belleville, IL, born on June 9, 1941, in East St. Louis, IL, died on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon, IL, after a valiant battle with cancer.

Eileen grew up in East St. Louis, attended St. Patrick’s Parish, St. Teresa Acadamy and went on to graduate from St. Louis University. She worked for many years at Ralston Purina, and then as a legal secretary, retiring from Roberts Perryman.

She was a devoted caregiver to her parents, Daniel and Marie O’Brien, until their deaths. She met her loving husband, Gerry, in 1987 when she walked into AAA Auto Club needing car insurance for herself and her father. She and Gerry began a beautiful relationship and married on October 14, 2000 at St. Henry Catholic Church. They shared an amazing 38 years together full of happiness, love, and laughter. Eileen loved going to church and would pray the rosary daily and would always be in attendance for Sunday mass. She had deep faith and was always a positive influence on all. Her kindness, humbleness, concern for others, and sincere heart will always be remembered by those who knew her.

Eileen and Gerry loved to spend time together, traveling to various places, especially Ireland with her sister’s family. They rarely passed up an opportunity to go on vacations with Traci, Greg, and “her boys” (Jerry and Scott). They loved going to see the sights and sounds of Las Vegas, but the buffet was always the best part! When they weren’t traveling, they would always look forward to playing Dominos once a month with longtime friends. Playing the card game “Golf” after holiday meals and birthday celebrations was a given, along with attending the many sporting and school events for “the boys”.

Eileen would talk with her sister, MaryAnn every day. She was always involved with her nieces, Beth, Anne, and Ellen, while they were growing up and even later when they started families of their own.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Marie, nee McAuliffe O’Brien. Eileen is survived by her devoted husband, Gerry Wiegers; His children, Eric Wiegers and Traci (Greg) Nowak; grandsons, Jerry (Khayla) Nowak and Scott Nowak; her nieces, Beth (Dave) Nester, Ellen (Jim) Federer, Anne (Jim) Nisbet; and her dear sister, Mary Ann Geppert; and many loving great nieces, nephews and cousins.

“A limb has fallen from our family tree,

but please don’t be sad for me.

Remember all the good times filled with laughter and song,

a life fully blessed when I was strong.

You may feel that I have gone away,

but I’m still beside you every day.”

Memorials can be made in the form of masses to St. Henry Catholic Church, or Saint Vincent dePaul Society.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at St. Henry Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at St. Henry Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Rev. Kenneth York officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Belleville, IL.

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