There’s a segment on the Sunday Today show called “A Life Well Lived” that honors a person who has recently passed. What these honorees all have in common is a curious blend of optimism, practical wisdom, and an openness to facing whatever shows up. I’d like to share with you part of the story of one such a person’s life.

Eileen Marie Karbowski was born to Alex and Viola on November 28, 1925 at the height of the Jazz Age. She grew up a child of the Depression, and in high school personally experienced the devastation of WW2 with the loss of her brother, Sonny, when the Houston was sunk. Before her 22nd birthday she had married, had her first child, and become a widow.

She married again and was blessed with 5 more daughters who remember growing up in a home filled with the smell of fresh bread just out of the oven, lots of hand sewn dresses, and always an abundance of laughter and love. Eileen spent more than 20 years raising her daughters and keeping the Urban household running smoothly.

When she later divorced, she got a job at Sears in Brookfield Square where she worked for many years until retirement. Despite having no prior employment record, not only did Sears hire her, they quickly recognized her abilities and promoted her to a department head.

In 1972 she and Joe Rondone were married and built their house in Menomonee Falls. Though most of her girls never lived there, W213 N5445 Kenmore Drive felt like home. Family gathered there for weddings, holidays, and for no special reason at all. It was here that her lifetime loves of gardening and golf, travel and antiquing began.

Her love of gardening probably grew out of necessity. She and Joe transformed the muddy lot they were left with after building - into the envy of the neighborhood with Joe’s immaculate lawn and her beautiful flower beds. She lovingly tended those flower beds until she fell and broke her hip on her 95th birthday. By spring she realized she would no longer be able to keep up the house and gardens and made the decision to go into assisted living.

When the real estate agent who sold her home stepped out of his car and saw the house for the first time, he commented that it was this...those beautiful gardens that would sell the house. And they did.

When she and Joe weren’t at their jobs or working in the yard, they golfed together, and with family and friends for many years. Even though she started golfing later than most, Eileen Rondone was a Flight A golfer and member of the Nagawaukee Women’s 9 Hole League well into her 80’s.

She also enjoyed traveling, especially visiting her daughters in Georgia, Arizona, and Colorado and making the memorable journey to Houston with her brothers and sisters and their spouses to honor the crew of Sonny’s ship. She was a world traveler, too, visiting Rome and Madrid and London and Paris. Her last trip was to Ireland in celebration of her 92nd birthday. But as much as she loved to travel, she was always happy to come back home.

Another lifetime love came from her appreciation of antiques. She started going to estate sales and auctions to find treasures to repair and refinish and put in her home. This activity led to a very successful business venture, Eileen’s Antiques. She started by selling out of the house, and eventually had a booth in one of her favorite places, Stonewood Village. She joined the Wisconsin Antique Dealers Association, bought a van, permanently removed the two back seats, loaded it to the max and sold at shows in Wirth Park, Cedarburg, Mukwonago, and of course Elkhorn, where she developed friendships and a following. The same buyers would come visit her spot in North Hall year after year.

Two months shy of her 94th birthday she did her last show there. She was really in her element - dealing and dickering with potential buyers, and you could see how much she loved it.

Eileen’s life was filled with things she loved doing, but the thing that brought her the most joy throughout her life was family. From her parents, who she told the hospice chaplain she most looked forward to seeing again, to her 3 brothers and 2 sisters, her 6 daughters, her sons-in-law, 8 grandchildren, and 9 - soon to be 10 great grandchildren, nothing could bring a smile to her face like seeing them, or hearing about what was going on in their lives or just reminiscing about those she loved. She often told her caregivers how very blessed her life had been.

Eileen was indeed a blend of optimism, practical wisdom, and openness to facing whatever shows up. We’re all so lucky to have been a part of and witness to this Life Well Lived and so very blessed to have had this model of strength, grace, and resilience as our matriarch.

Eileen Marie Rondone was 100 1/2 years old when she died on May 25, 2026. She was very much loved and will be greatly missed.