Eileen Dever (née Mangan), 89, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on October 30. A woman of unshakeable faith and lifelong service, she was the widow of Peter F. Dever, her husband of 41 years, the loving mother of seven children, and the proud Nana of 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mrs. Dever was a longtime resident of North Merrick and East Meadow and an active parishioner of Sacred Heart Church. She served as eucharistic minister, a leader of at-home retreats, and editor of the parish newsletter. She was a devoted member of the Rosary Society and was recently honored for her decades of service to the Catholic Daughters of America, Court Bishop Kellenberg. In 2003, Mrs. Dever made her lay ministry official and became a Dominican Associate with the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville.

Mrs. Dever worked at the Merrick Library for 20 years. As Director of Programs and Public Relations, she coordinated all programming events, outings, and guest speakers. After her library retirement, she turned her skills to journalism, working as a staff editor and reporter for Merrick Life newspaper for many years. She was the busiest person we ever knew, running (always in high heels) from her office to prayer group to book club, making time along the way for some lemon meringue pie. She loved to laugh, loudly. She loved the beach best of all: the sun on her face, the sand in her toes, and a swim in the ocean whenever possible, but always on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, when “the cure was in the water.” In addition to her husband, Eileen is predeceased by her loving sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Steve Cesare and dearest nephew Stephen. She is survived by her children Karen Dever, Mary Van Calcar (Rick Forlenza), Eileen Barreto (Jimmy), Rosemarie Schellas (Scott), Noreen Arralde (Joseph), Donna Downing (Matthew), and Peter Dever (Noreen); grandchildren Brian, Timothy, Noelle, Jillian, Casey, Kerry, Kevin, J.P, Fr. Ambrose, O.P. (Thomas), Ariana, Lucy, Andrew, Bridget, Matt, Grace, and Peter; great-grandchildren Kennedy and Ava; nieces Kathleen Sanders, Mary Beth Della Rocca (Dave), and Jean Marie Glenister (Tim), grandnieces Marie, Kaitlyn, Elizabeth, Lily, Hattie, grandnephew John, and great-grandnephews Cade and Devereux.

Family will receive friends Thursday November 3, 2022 from 2 pm - 4 pm and 7 pm - 9 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday November 4th, 11:15 am, at Sacred Heart R.C. Church in North Merrick, NY. Interment to follow at Trinity Cemetery in Amityville. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in Eileen’s name, or to Sacred Heart Church, North Merrick, NY, the parish to which she was devoted.