Eileen Carol Holley died on Jan. 31 in Boston due to natural causes. She was 73.

Eileen was born on Feb. 2, 1943, in Rochester, N.Y. to the late William Parkin and Helen Seidenfeld Parkin. She grew up with her brother Michael, and spent much of her childhood enjoying art and music. She graduated from East Hampton High School in Connecticut and studied art at Hartford Art School. She was a fiber artist and avid quilter whose designs were frequently featured in Needlecraft for Today. For many years she was as an active member of the Vineyard Craftsman on Martha’s Vineyard.

Eileen worked for many years in the advertising industry, both as the advertising manager at the Vineyard Gazette and as a member of the advertising team of The Irish Emigrant in Boston. Even in her retirement, she continued to bring her passion for the arts to the elderly community as she actively engaged in providing art and craft activities to other residents.

Her smarts and integrity were noticed in all that she did. She was a woman of great valor, dignity, and courage. Her valor was of the quiet kind. Her dignity, unself-conscious, and her courage, unassailable. This was just who she was. She stepped up to the plate every day of her life and tried her best. She tried when she was in pain, she tried when she was overwhelmed, she tried when she didn’t know how she could try any more, even after an accident which rendered her paralyzed and dependent on others for her daily care. Despite this experience, Eileen chose to respond in kindness, faith and love. Regardless of where she was, she tried to find ways to connect and make a difference.

She was creative and talented. She wrote beautifully and never failed to amaze others with her ability to do almost anything that involved yarn, knitting needles, fabric and quilting. She had an eye for color —purple was her favorite —as well as an eye for design, and found joy and deep satisfaction in creativity. She saw beauty in everything around her, and felt deep appreciation in everything she could: the cardinal on a bare branch outside her window, the chartreuse buds that opened into new leaves on trees she could see from her bed, the sliver of a moon or the pastel clouds from a setting sun. She took in this beauty, and shared it with others through her artwork.

Eileen was incredibly passionate and proud of her family. Her love for and belief in her children never wavered; her children and grandchildren were the center of her world. She is survived by her brother Michael and his wife Diane of Ottawa, Ontario, and by her children: Enrico Holley and Kyra Jenkins of Edgartown; Esther Teves and her husband John of Vineyard Haven; Eleonora Cahill and her husband James of Parker, Colo.; and Evelyn Holley of Chelsea. Additionally, she is survived by her nine grandchildren: EmmaJean Holley, Matthew Jenkins, Aleeya Holley, Aaron Teves, Devon Teves, Jessica Little and her husband Dustin Little, Matthew Cahill, Quinn Cahill, and Janie Cahill.

Contributions in Eileen’s memory may be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, mvcommunityservices.com.