Eileen was born in Rose Valley, Saskatchewan on April 16, 1954 to Alec and Laila Johnson. She was the third daughter in the family, and over the years would be joined by 3 more sisters and a brother. Eileen grew up on the family farm outside of Archerwill, attending grades 1 to 9 in Archerwill and 10 to 12 in Rose Valley. She then continued her education at Kelsey Institute in Saskatoon, studying Industrial Chemical Technology. Upon her graduation from Kelsey, she obtained employment at the University of Saskatchewan working in psychiatric research. Her specialty was operating a mass spectrometer. After several years in Saskatoon, she decided to head west, taking a position at the University of Calgary working in oil and gas research. After the grant she was working on ran out, she had several short term employment positions, until such time that her health made it unable for her to work.
Eileen was diagnosed with MS at around 19 years of age. Although over the years, the disease eventually slowed her down, it never took away her enthusiasm and love of life. Nor did it ever diminish her amazing smile and the sparkle in her eyes.
Eileen loved to travel and over the years took trips to Hawaii, Mazatlan, the Phillipines, Cuba, Jamaica, eastern Canada, and throughout the USA.
Another passion of Eileen's was music and concerts. We can't even estimate how many times she saw Paul Brandt in concert, as he was one of her favourites. Everyone who knew her knew of her love for country music. This even extended as far as the EMS personnel in Regina who would transport her to appointments - they would come to pick Eileen up at the Wascana and say "We better crank up the country music - we have Eileen on board!"
While living in Calgary, Eileen owned her own home, which she was very proud of. When she was unable to live on her own any longer, she moved into long term care in Calgary, where she lived for 10 years, and then moved to the Wascana Rehab Centre in Regina in January of 2004. Although she was resistant to the idea of coming back to Saskatchewan, she soon discovered that she was in the best care facility in the country, with the most caring staff that anyone could ever hope for. Being closer to family was an added bonus for both her and her family. It was while she was in the Wascana that she met John Walker, who would become a very important part of her life.
Eileen was predeceased by her father, Alec, her brother Gary, and her sister LaVonne Sunderland. She is survived by her mother Laila, her sisters Cheryl (Bob) Stadnek, Lorraine (Mike) Christensen, Donna (Alain Dumas) and Sandra (Alton) Tangedal, brother-in-law Myron Sunderland, a very large extended family and many special friends, including John Walker, Gloria Parisien, Teri Larson and Val Buchanon, to name a few.
The family would like to thank Dr. McMillan and the staff on Main 6 at the Wascana Rehab Centre for going above and beyond in their care of Eileen over the past 8 years.