Eileen Mary Masiello's Obituary
Eileen Mary Masiello, 91, of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed away peacefully with family by her side on Sunday, December 5th, 2021.
Eileen was born on July 4, 1930, in Lynn, Massachusetts to Diana DeJesus and Husseyin “Charlie” Suliman. While Eileen’s parents were smitten with each other, they did not speak the same language at first. Despite this, she was able to learn and embrace her father’s Turkish culture. Though Eileen never learned his language, she loved spending time with her father and their Turkish traditions. She enjoyed their close-knit community and felt a deep connection to their family values which she carried throughout her life. Through her childhood, Eileen could be found along the shores of Lynn, playing on the beach and swimming in the water. As a teenager, she met a handsome, young, World War II US Navy Sailor, named Frank and married him at the Church of The Good Shepherd in Frank’s home of Brooklyn, New York. Together, they had six children and made Lynn, Massachusetts their home. She often said raising four teenage boys during the 1960s was a challenge that could prepare her for anything else life would throw at her. As one would expect of a mother of six, Eileen was very active in all of her children’s lives. She loved spending time with her kids in every aspect, from small moments when watching her favorite show, I Love Lucy, with them, to serving as a Cub Scout Den Mother for 10 years. She never missed a field trip, class party, fundraiser, parent-teacher conference, or any other event for her children. While hard to believe, Eileen made time to earn her Bachelor’s degree in behavioral health all while raising her six children and attending every event. With her youngest child still at home, Eileen packed them both up and headed west to California to care for her mother. Once again, Eileen found herself near the shoreline which she loved so much. Eileen rounded her life as an Okie in Oklahoma, enjoying the local accents which she was adamant she did not have. Living at Prairie Rose was a dream come true for her. Eileen always wanted the end of her life to be peaceful, to still be independent, and to have family nearby. It was an added bonus that Prairie Rose had a choir she adored being part of and was at the chapel every chance she had.
It was while living in California that Eileen found a deeper connection with her Lord and Savior, Jesus. She dedicated over 30 years of her life as a faithful servant at her church, New Covenant Tabernacle, in Chula Vista, California. Her personal faith continued to grow under the leadership and teaching of her pastors, Pastor John and Marie Sorrentino. Not only was Eileen the nursery coordinator of the church, she was also actively involved in their missions to Mexico, helping establish three orphanages there. During her time volunteering at the church, the Lord led her to become a loving caregiver for those who were bedridden. Throughout her career, Eileen was honored to lead people to the Lord and would beam with excitement when she would tell her family of a new follower of Christ. She found great joy in being a light for the Lord through caring for others and continued to work more than full-time until she was 84 years old.
Over the years, Eileen’s sense of commitment to her family was ever-present and could be seen in all the vacations she took. She was often overheard saying, “My children are my life.” She loved spending time with Nick and Susan at their lake home where she would stroll onto the dock, sit to read her Bible; and witness the gorgeous sunsets. She relished visiting their house on Ocean Street in Lynn, so close to the exclusive King’s Beach that she loved as a child. She spent countless hours with Frank, Pat, and their children in Wakefield, especially loved when they would eat out on the screened-in porch and enjoy the Massachusetts fresh air. Eileen loved recalling her visits to John and Laurie’s lake house in Groton, sitting on their back deck watching the family jump and play in the water. When she would visit Steve and Linda, she recalled being treated like royalty with special foods, a trip to the ice cream stand, and nonstop cuddles from Sweet Pea. Eileen found herself visiting Julie, Roger, and their children in the various places he was stationed, like when she visited them in Germany, she took a short trip to Salzburg and gleefully stood in the famous Gazebo from The Sound of Music, her favorite movie. Eileen loved going with her daughter, Eileen, and her children for overnight trips to soak up the sun and watch the boys play water polo.
Most who knew Eileen would say she had quite a sense of adventure with all of her travels. One of her sons, Nick, remembered when Eileen and Frank went to the World’s Fair in New York in 1963 with their children. Eileen found the most amazing thing there - a phone where you could see the person on the other end of the line! Sadly, it cost four quarters per minute so she only made one quick call. One of her nieces, Marie, lovingly remembered when Eileen and Frank bravely took four of their children and four of their cousins to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. Imagine taking eight children on the subway, a ferry, and wrangling them up the spiral staircase to the top of the statue… while six months pregnant!
Whether it was a dance recital, piano recital, track meet, or water polo match, Eileen could be found cheering on her children and her grandchildren, too, and making time for every adventure with them no matter where they were in the world. She made a lasting impression on countless people she met over the years. She was kind, soft-spoken, yet unafraid when it came to the Gospel. She was known for freely handing out tiny, white, Bibles to all she came in contact with and she was never shy about asking people if they knew Jesus. Her family and her faith were her greatest accomplishments.
Survived by those who will miss her dearly are her children, Nick and wife Susan Masiello of Lynn, MA, daughter in law, Pat Masiello of Wakefield, MA, John and wife Laurie Masiello of Groton, MA, Steve and wife Linda Masiello of Leominster, MA, Julie and husband Roger Dionne of Tulsa, OK, and Eileen Brown of Chula Vista, CA; grandchildren, Chris Masiello, Tony Masiello, Sara and husband Markiyan Malko, Christopher and wife Robyn Masiello, Greg and wife Jen Masiello, Jeromy and wife Julia Dionne, Zach and wife Dawn Dionne, David, and wife Amber Dionne, Rachel Dionne, Benjamin Brown, and David Brown. Her life was made even fuller with 14 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Diana DeJesus and father, Husseyin “Charlie” Suliman; brother, Harry Golden; son, Frankie Masiello; and the love of her life and husband of 32 years, Frank Masiello.
Viewing will be held on Friday, December 10th from 4-6pm at Floral Haven Funeral Home located at 6500 S 129th E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, December 11th at 10am, followed by a graveside service at Floral Haven Cemetery.
To view the services via webcasting please use the link below:
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/64902/hash:DEA3C6D9DD87A88D
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