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Eileen Thompson Panowski, a long-time resident of both Los Alamos and Albuquerque, died on March 18th, 2011, one day after her 91st birthday. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1920, and she graduated with cum laude honors in English from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Shortly after her 65th birthday, she earned her PhD in anthropology from the University of New Mexico. Eileen was a remarkable woman- in addition to being a housewife and mother of four children, she worked full-time for several years as a radio-chemistry technician in J-Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory and later as a museum guide at the Lab's Science Museum. She enjoyed camping, fishing, and hiking on the mesas and in the mountains of New Mexico. In the 1960s-'70s, she pursued her true love of writing. She wrote a couple of short stories, and six fiction books for intermediate-age readers that were published. These books reflected her interests in the Southwest, anthropology, Spanish and Native American history and arts. In the 1980s Eileen tackled her family history and genealogy, and traveled around the US in order to discover and research her family history. During this time, she also became an avid birder. Combining this interest with her love of travel, she journeyed to every continent of the world, spotting and recording several thousand birds for her "life-list." Her husband of 61 years, Jack, died in 2004. Eileen continued to take her chair exercise classes at Presbyterian Healthplex and met Ralph Daitz. Eileen and Ralph shared four years together as beloved companions until his death in 2009. Eileen was pre-deceased by her parents, Hugh and Nelle Thompson; her brother Robert; and her sister, Shirley. She is survived by her sister, Natalie Roberts and husband Meade Roberts; her four children- son Thomas Panowski and fiancee Jeannie Moore, son Bruce Panowski and wife Lyndi Hubbell, daughter Daryl Lopez, and daughter Lynn Ensslin and husband Norbert Ensslin; and beloved grandchildren- grandson, Siler Panowski and wife Jenni Durieux; grandson, Jonah Panowski; grandson, Daniel Lopez; and granddaughter, Angelina Lopez-Brody and husband Nathan Lopez-Brody. A Memorial gathering will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011, at 11:00 A.M., at the chapel in Central Methodist Church, at 1615 Copper Ave, NE, Albuquerque. A Reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to Presbyterian Hospice, 8100 Constitution Place, NE, Suite 400, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110.To view funeral information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com Eileen's care has been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010
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