Eileen Marie Richvalsky's Obituary
Eileen Marie Richvalsky, 87, fondly known as Dreamwalker, of Vermilion, Ohio, passed away knowingly and peacefully on December 31, 2024. Her life animated by the Creative Spirit was like a hand-stitched quilt. Each thread, each stitch was Love.
She is survived by her thriving family: spouse, Joseph A. Richvalsky; children, Steve (Marcia) Richvalsky, Ann (Lee) Hurd, Joe Richvalsky, and Joan (Mark) Konya; grandchildren, Olivia (Sean) Tobin, Grace Richvalsky, Alexis (Josh) Sekola, and Andrew Konya and great-grandchild, Charlotte Marie Tobin. Eileen is also remembered by her sister, Joan Lee, and her cousin, Denise Delaney.
Eileen was preceded in death by her mother, Josephine Demaline; father, Carl Heinmiller and stepfather, Russell Demaline.
Eileen was born on September 26, 1937 in Berea, Ohio. She began her higher education in nursing, then transitioned to NASA, Cleveland employed as a mathematician. She was an active member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church & School in Avon, Ohio. Eileen was known for her felt banners and costume designs. Other passions included sewing, dressmaking, reading and book-club, cooking, baking, and a love of nature, especially growing flowers.
A Rockstar Woman. Eileen after raising four children, all of whom earned college degrees, earned her degree in Fine Arts from Bowling Green State University with a focus on oil painting and sculpture. She was known by many as Dreamwalker, an accomplished artist, a feminist trailblazer active in the Feminist Movement, the Michigan Women's Music Festival, and the founding creator of the "Festival Quilt." She enjoyed singing with the women's performance choir "Windsong," Cleveland.
As Eileen requested there will be no funeral or memorial services held.
A "Celebration of Life" gathering will be held later this year during the summer to honor Eileen’s life and will include a retrospective of her life's work in painting and sculpture. Details to follow via Facebook.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Hospice of the Western Reserve (www.hospicewr.org) in the name of Eileen "Dreamwalker" Richvalsky.
Dreamwalker touched so many circles of people like overlapping ripples on water, she remains ever-present, always direct and to the point, and quietly her immense love goes on filling us.
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