Eileen E. Couturier

Eileen E. (Kunisch) Couturier, 89, passed away at peace Friday, August 18, 2017 while she was residing at Lakes of Sylvania, surrounded by the love of her family. Eileen was born June 16, 1928 to Alfred and Helen (McCann) Kunisch of Toledo. Eileen met her husband, Al, while in high school. Al saw her walking home from school and got his sister, Eileen’s schoolmate, to ask Eileen to write to him while he was in the Navy during WWII. The letters blossomed into romance and they were married on January 8, 1948. The marriage weathered the joys and heartbreaks of over 68 years. She was a product and proponent of the Roman Catholic education system, raised in the Gesu parish. She was a proud graduate of Notre Dame Academy, prouder yet that her daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters followed her lead. Eileen’s young family eventually moved to Berkey where they attended St. Elizabeth’s in Richfield Center. Eileen was an organist there for a time and later Eucharistic Minister. After downsizing from the family home that Al built in Richfield Center, Al and Eileen worshipped at Christ the King parish in Toledo, where Eileen served at Adoration and was a member of its Bible study group. Eileen had a rich life balancing care of her spouse and nine children, always as a working Mom. She began her 21-year career with the US Postal Service as a mail clerk, eventually serving as Postmistress in Berkey and retiring as Director of Marketing in Toledo. She was an avid reader of both secular and spiritual material, with a keen interest in current events. She and husband Al served on the committee for the design of the Veterans’ Glass City Bridge. Eileen was 50 when she earned an Associate’s Degree in Arts from Lourdes College in Sylvania in 1979. She continued to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Siena Heights College in Adrian, MI, graduating cum laude in 1980 and then went on to earn a Master’s Degree from Sienna Heights in Counseling in 1984. This was while she was still working full time. Eileen was known as a “true lady” by all who knew her. She was a vital, strong and intelligent woman—far more than these few words can express. Of all her many accomplishments, she would attest that raising a large and loving family was her greatest achievement. May her example and life lessons echo through the lives of her children and their offspring with at least some of her dignity, compassion and love. Eileen is survived by her devoted husband, Al Couturier of Toledo, brother William Kunisch of Richfield Center, sister Alice (Joseph) Westrick of Mount Shasta, CA, brother Rev. Robert Kunisch C.PP.S. of Carthagena, OH, and sister-in-law Corinne Rhoades of Toledo. Her surviving children are Mary (Don) Smith of Lambertville, Ginny (Rick) Slawinski of Berkey, Madonna (Philip) Nessle of Youngstown, Joseph (Shirley) Couturier of Holland, Michael (Brenda) Couturier of Anchorage, AK, Ann Couturier of Toledo, Michelle (Greg) Burkhart of Toledo, and Eileen (John) Evola of Sylvania. Eileen is also survived by 24 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren (a number still growing). Eileen was predeceased by her parents, son Mark Couturier and his daughters Cheree and Chivaun, brother Raymond Kunisch and sisters-in-law Rita Kunisch and Ginny Kunisch. Friends will be received at the Walker Funeral Home 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey) on Wednesday August 23 from 3-8 PM with a Scripture Service at 7 PM. Visitation will continue on Thursday at 9 AM in Christ the King Church, 4100 Harvest Lane in Toledo where the funeral mass will follow at 10 AM with Fr. Gregory Hite presiding. Interment will be at a later date in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Richfield Center. True to her roots, Eileen requested an Irish wake at a date and time to be announced. Memorial gifts in Eileen’s name may be made to the St. Charles Living Center, 2860 US Route 127, Carthagena, OH 45822.