EILEEN STEN

Eileen Sten, 69, of Manhattan, NY, died Sunday, March 31, 2013 in the New York Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell.

Born in Brooklyn, she was the daughter of Ruth Domowitz Sten of Kingston and the late Leonard Sten and was a graduate of Kingston High School and the Katherine Gibbs secretarial college. Eileen worked for the United Nations in NYC for 42 years, during which time she traveled all over the world. She retired as United Nations Promotions and Distribution Officer in 2004. Eileen was a member of Temple Israel, Wilkes-Barre, was a former member of the Jewish Community Center and other civic and religious organizations in both Kingston and Manhattan.

Eileen was a tremendously dedicated daughter and sister. She was the truest of friends, and a compassionate stranger. In her travels across the globe, she touched the lives of everyone she conversed with; from subway and bus rides on the east coast, to the villages of Indonesia where she spent many years. Those who knew and loved her, often begged her to write her extraordinary experiences down. Her refreshing honesty and was only surpassed by her sharp wit and sense of humor. So very many of her dear friends, neighbors, and colleagues have children who know her as their "Aunt" Eileen. She is a legend for being a faithful attendee of every concert, recital, play, and life milestone for her nieces and nephews by blood and by love.

Eileen was an avid reader, and loved to discuss politics and current events. She was forever interested in understanding the opinions of everyone she met. During the warmer months, when she visited her parents in Kingston, Eileen always cultivated a beautiful and fruitful garden.

She was preceded in death by father, Leonard Sten; brother Howard Sten and her sister, Barbara Sten Whalen.

She is survived by her mother Ruth, sister-in-law, Virginia Sten of East Stroudsburg, nieces and nephews, Rachel Sten and her husband Scott Rumble, great nephew Owen Rumble of Rutledge, PA; David Sten of San Diego, CA; Jared Whalen of Oneonta, NY; Chelsea Pittman, great nieces and nephew, Nevaeh Pittman, Chloe Pittman, and Talian Pittman of Poughkeepsie, NY and many close friends including Alice Tapharey, Manhattan.

Funeral service will be held Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 12:00 noon, at the Rosenberg Funeral Chapel, Inc., 348 S. River Street, Wilkes-Barre. Rabbi Larry Kaplan and Cantor Ahron Abraham will officiate. Interment will be Temple Israel Cemetery, Swoyersville.

Shiva will be observed at 146 S. Dawes Ave, Kingston, Thursday evening from 7 to 9 and Friday afternoon, 2 to 4.

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