Obituary of Eileen Ann Klein

Eileen Ann (Paulsen) Klein was born in Monticello Iowa to Meinhardt (Mike) and Genevieve (Horton) Paulsen, Eileen received her grade school education in a one-room country schoolhouse. She graduated from Monticello High School in 1950 and enrolled in the School of Nursing at the University of Iowa graduating in 1953. Nursing was her lifelong goal. Eileen's first job was at the University of Iowa Hospital. Eileen married Paul Klein on February 2, 1956 and they had three children; Douglas, Michele and Sarah. Eileen and Paul moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1985 and Eileen finished her nursing career as a school nurse at Santa Catalina. Eileen was a compassionate person and always made time to help the less fortunate. Eileen shunned accolades for her work, however, she and another lady started the I- HELP program at St. Angela Merici Church in Pacific Grove. The I-HELP program served meals to men in the program on the 4th Thursday of each month. Eileen organized the meals for the I-HELP program for 18 years, including Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas. She accepted the holiday meal service in stride, stating "The men get hungry on holidays the same as any other day." Eileen loved baseball, college football and was an avid reader. She was an active member of St. Angela Merici Parish, a member of the Catholic Daughters and she sponsored several people in the RCIA program. Eileen volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Seaside for many years. Eileen is survived by Paul, her husband of 65 years; her son, Douglas, his wife Christine and grandchildren, David, Laura, and Daniel of Cave Creek Arizona; daughter, Michele and grandchildren, Andrew and Stephen of Fremont, California; daughter, Sarah and grandchildren, Nicole of Ridgefield, CT and Robert of Monterey. She is also survived by her brothers, Dr. Kenneth Paulsen and wife, Judy, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and James Paulsen of Las Vegas, Nevada. Eileen had seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mike and Genevieve Paulsen. A memorial mass will be held at 10:30 am Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Hills followed with burial at the St. Stanislaus Cemetery in rural Hills. Memorials can be given I HELP, PO Box 413, Monterey, CA 93940 or St. Vincent de Paul, 146 – 8th St., Pacific Grove, CA 93950 or a charity of your choice. To share a thought memory or condolence with her family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.