Obituary: In remembrance of Eileen Hull
Eileen Katherine Hull of Port Jefferson passed away on Jan. 22, 2025 at the age of 89. Beloved wife of Henry Hull (1933-2024), born in Middletown, she was the daughter of Lawrence Bodle and Dorothy Schwab Bodle of Orange County.
With the softest of voices and the brightest of smiles, Eileen Hull was the epitome of ‘sugar, spice and everything nice’. Henry Hull was devoted to her and she ultimately could not continue without him. The Hull family was built on the incredible love and respect they had for each other.
Jacqueline Hull, Suzanne Wolff, the late Lawrence Henry Hull and Christine Cognetti were her prides and joy. The arrival of her grandchildren Thomas and Sarah Hull; Alexa Jane, Connor Wolff and Ella; and Olivia and Katherine Cognetti brought her endless joy.
An only child, she enjoyed growing up with extended family in Middletown and at their summer cabin on Wolf Lake. Larry Hull was a tradesman working at Clemson Brothers and Dorothy Hull was a school teacher in Circleville. Eileen earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from SUNY New Paltz in 1957, then headed to Long Island where teaching jobs were plentiful. It was there she met a tall blonde man named Henry and her heart was forever his.
Married in April of 1960, Eileen Hull and Henry Hull continued with their careers in education on Long Island and called it home for the rest of their lives. With the birth of Jackie Hull in 1964 and then Sue Hull in 1966 she paused her career to care for her family.
She was always involved in school activities, volunteered at every bake and book sale, shuffled her girls from dance recitals to sporting events and never missed a moment of her greatest role as “Mom”. With Christine’s arrival in 1972 and the move from Eaton’s Neck to Port Jefferson, she continued to build friendships everywhere she went and run an increasingly busy household.
Later, returning to teaching in the Port Jefferson school district allowed her to share her love of learning. For those that were fortunate enough to work with her, their lives were touched by her endless positivity and relentless encouragement.
Her most cherished role followed: “Gramme”. With the arrival of grandchildren, she hit her stride and formed special relationships with each of them. Whether across town or across the country, she never missed the opportunity to be involved in their lives, writing them sweet notes, reading them books, making them chicken and stars soup and always offering a soft shoulder for them to snuggle up on until the very end.
There were seven hearts that broke in July 2024 with the passing of Henry Hull and now again in January 2025 with the passing of Eileen Hull. We are mourning our loss, but celebrating their love. We know she is smiling down on all of us in her husband’s warm embrace of true love once again.
A celebration of Eileen’s life will be held at Caroline Episcopal Church in May 2025.
