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Eileen Marie (Tasillo) Carlins

September 11, 1953 - March 24, 2017

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Obituary For Eileen Marie (Tasillo) Carlins

September 11, 1953 - March 24, 2017

Eileen Marie (Tasillo) Carlins passed away at her home in Pleasant Hills on March 24, 2017 after a long illness. Eileen, daughter of the late Josephine and Raymond Tasillo, is survived by her beloved husband of 40 years, Daniel; children Matthew (Jennifer) Carlins, Sarah (Richard) Kwiatkowski and Emily (Dustin) Price; grandchildren Noah and Mason Carlins and Lucy Kwiatkowski; brothers James (Francine) Tasillo and Raymond Tasillo (Teresa Moore); and sisters Joyce (Kevin) Schlentner, Mary Jean Malawski (Ken McPhail) and Joan Blodgett; and loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her infant daughter Rachel. Eileen will be missed by a large circle of family, friends and colleagues. After earning her Master's in Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh and graduating valedictorian, Eileen joined SIDS of Pennsylvania as its first Director of Support and Education. A pioneer of the national infant safe sleep movement, known as Cribs for Kids, Inc., Eileen developed a safe sleep curriculum that she taught to nursing schools, child care providers, mortuary science students, hospitals, health departments, high school health classes, and non-profit organizations. She made a major impact in the lives of many grieving families by starting Healing Hearts, a bereavement program that included home visits, phone calls day and night, and monthly support meetings to families whose infants had died for any reason and needed support. Eileen served as President of the Alumni Association of the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work; Special Discipline Instructor, Pennsylvania Keys to Professional Development; member of the Allegheny County Child Death Review Team; member of Safe Sleep Committees at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and UPMC Magee-Women's Hospital; adjunct professor at Carlow University School for Social Change, Department of Social Work; and field instructor at Carlow University, Chatham University, Duquesne University School of Nursing and the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Friends will be received at the John F. Slater Funeral Home, 4201 Brownsville Rd., Brentwood 15227 on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. Funeral Prayer on Thursday morning at 9:00. Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Elizabeth's of Hungary RC Church, One Grove Road, Pleasant Hills at 10 am. followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery with her daughter Rachel. Her family requests that Eileen be remembered for how she lived, not how she died, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cribs for Kids, Inc., 5450 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15207 (cribsforkids.org). Eileen's friends and family take comfort in knowing that she has been greeted in heaven by her loving daughter, Rachel.

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Condolences

  • November 28, 2022

    Mary Halliday

    Eileen was a gift to us all who knew her, even briefly. She spent hours on the phone with me a few weeks after my son Killian died at 10 weeks from SIDS. She came to my home to visit, and I faithfully attended monthly support groups for close to a year. It was so wonderful having someone who knew exactly the emotions I was experiencing to help me. I was even invited with my other children to her home for dinner. I am a social worker as well. It has been 19 years since my son passed away and I am at a point where I want to help others like her. I was searching for her contact information and ran across this. I wish the family peace and love. Mary Halliday- mother of Killian Vogel

  • December 11, 2019

    Condolences to the family. Eileen will be fondly remembered by the important work she did. From a Cribs for Kids program in New York. Thank you.

  • December 11, 2019

    Karl & Amy...So sorry for your loss, you have my condolences....Bob Cleary.

  • December 11, 2019

    Dear Carlins family, I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of eileen. She has touched my heart in so many ways. She has made me the person i am today. I remember when i graduated college she was the loudest in the room when i walked across the stage. Ill always keep her memory alive. You are all in my prayers.

  • December 11, 2019

    The entire faculty, staff, and student body at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science extend our heartfelt sympathy to Eileen's family. She enjoyed coming to the school to speak to every class and we were always excited to see her. Everyone is saddened by Eileen's death, including alumni. She was truly a unique individual and will never be forgotten. May she rest in peace.

  • December 11, 2019

    Dear Dan & family, I am so saddened to hear about Eileen. She was such a sweet dear lady. I enjoyed our many years of working together . Michaelleene

  • December 11, 2019

    There are no words to express how we feel. Our deepest sympathy for the loss of Eileen. Such a very special Lady! She will remain in your hearts and memories always. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

  • December 11, 2019

    God bless, Eileen. A dedicated social worker, loving parent, loyal partner, and consummate humanitarian.

  • December 11, 2019

    I am saddened to hear of Eileen's passing. We shared our stories as bereaved parents for the residents at Children's Hospital annually. I drew strength from Eileen, a seasoned bereaved Mom, as she powerfully and eloquently shared her story of Rachel and how her family had the courage and grace to move forward through her advocacy work and helping others. She is a role model for me to "carry our crosses" with grace, faith and hope. I can only imagine the glorious reunion between Eileen and Rachel! With deep sympathy, Cyndi McGinnis

  • December 11, 2019

    â??Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself, Love possesses not nor would it be possessed: For love is sufficient unto love.â?? Just returned to America and searched some long missed friends - Eileen is thought of often and very highly. It was truly one of God's blessings to have known her at just the right time in life.

  • December 11, 2019

    So sorry to hear about your loss of a beautiful woman who was a hero and champion for babies and families everywhere. May our God and Father comfort your family.

  • December 11, 2019

    I am so sad to learn of Eileen's death. She was a beautiful representation of an authentic person who worked with a passion. Her dedication to Cribs for Kids provides a beautiful legacy and serves as a testament to her caring, empathetic nature. She was such a lovely woman; my sincerely condolences to her family. Amy

  • December 11, 2019

    I am so sad to hear that Eileen has passed on. My daughter and I met your mom through Cribs for Kids; my daughter lost her son, David Angelo, 8 years ago. Your mom helped both my daughter and I through one of the worst times of our lives. She shared her story about Rachel and listened about Angelo. She also traveled to Philadelphia once to present at a fundraising event. I will never forget her, I know she touched so many and will be dearly missed.

  • December 11, 2019

    My deepest, deepest sympathy to the entire family. I wanted to let you know the impact Eileen made in our 1 and only meeting. She did a safe sleep presentation for the Western Region of OCDEL. I was 2 months into the job. Her knowledge has influenced me to have the safe sleep conversation with every provider I talk to and every facility I inspect. Safe Sleep has become my passion and educating staff about it has become a top priority. She was a remarkable, highly respected, incredible woman. Her legacy of Safe Sleep will continue. Respectful regards,

  • December 11, 2019

    Eileen was one of those rare people who was able to weave the strength of her inner character into all of her interactions with her family, friends and professional colleagues. She exuded love, kindness, empathy and caring to everyone whose life she touched. Her life is, and will continue to be, an inspiration to all of us who were lucky enough to know her.

  • December 11, 2019

    Carlins Family, We just had to let you know how deeply saddened we are to hear of Eileen's passing. She was a very special person and it was a honor to know her. We truly believe that she was a gift from God that came into the world to share peace, love and understanding to everyone she met. I am sure you have had the same conversation that we have had about how Rachel and Eileen have touched so many lives. Now you have two Angels in heaven watching over you. The Bible says that "Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. We pray that God will bless all of us and give us the strength to carry on without her. Eileen and Rachel will always be alive in our hearts. We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless You. We feel truly blessed to know Eileen. In Faith & Sympathy, Sean & Marie

  • December 11, 2019

    I was deeply saddened upon reading of Eileen's passing. I met her about 6 years ago when I was a new nursing instructor at the University of Pittsburgh. She spoke to a group of my nursing students and I will never forget how powerful and moving her talk was. I recall it frequently to this day. All of the students were riveted and expressed how much they appreciated her lecture. She influenced me to become a safe sleep advocate and molded the type of nurse, and mother, I have become. I had the privilege of working with her again as a member of the Safe Sleep Committee at Magee. She was a pleasure to work with and combined professionalism with a warmth of spirit that I have seldom seen in another person. She made each person feel like the most important person in the room. I am so grateful to have known her and want you to know how much she has influenced countless lives. Jeanette

  • December 11, 2019

    My friend and I went camping the other day. It was a very bad experience, as he wouldn't let me sleep all night. He kept talking about random stuff and cried about his wakefulness. I totally told him to Contact and deal with it.