Kaufman

Eileen Lavonne (Heckard) Kaufman, 86, of Greenville, passed away Tuesday morning, March 4, 2025, at Avalon Springs Place, Mercer.

She was born Aug. 18, 1938, at home on the family farm in Cranberry Township to the late David and Edith (Goerhing) Heckard. Eileen attended a one-room schoolhouse on Mars Evans City Road for elementary school and then went to Evans City School, where she graduated. She loved attending the one-room schoolhouse reunion picnics.

After graduation, Eileen worked at a greenhouse until she married Dale H. Kaufman on May 6, 1961, and he passed away on May 4, 2013. After marrying Dale, she became “the farmer’s wife.” They had a dairy farm on Glen Eden Road in Cranberry Township until they moved to Greenville, Pa., in 2005. Even after Dale passed the milking duties to his son, Paul, Eileen still helped with milking chores every day until Paul got married, and his wife relieved her of milking. Brandy was only able to do this because Eileen came up to their house to sit with the sleeping kids during the early morning milking.

Besides her own children, Eileen helped raise numerous other kids, including her grandchildren, who loved spending lots of time at “Nannie’s” house.

Eileen loved to go to yard sales, flea markets and day trips to Middlefield, Ohio, with good friends Peggy Hespenhide and Mary Jo Greenlee. She also enjoyed vacations with her family in Cook Forest.

Eileen is survived by a son, Paul (Brandy) Kaufman of Greenville; a daughter, Cindy (Roger) Scott of Slippery Rock; a brother, Richard (Shirley) Heckard; four sisters, Joanne Bark, Ruth (Carl) Krieble, Marilyn (Gary) Nicklas and Kay Heckard; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Chase, James Chase, Katelyn Kaufman and Grace Kaufman; a great-grandson, Mason Chase; and many loved nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Betty Donaldson; brothers-in-law, Dean Donaldson, Jack Bark and Jerry McClintock; a sister-in-law, Edna Mae Garetner; and a stillborn daughter.

Eileen’s family wishes to express special thanks to everyone at Avalon Springs Place who cared for Eileen.

KAUFMAN — Cremation services for Eileen Lavonne (Heckard) Kaufman, who died Tuesday, March 4, 2025, have been entrusted to LOUTZENHISER-JORDAN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville.

A gathering to celebrate Eileen’s life will be announced at a later date.

Online visitors are welcome to sign the guest book at www.loutzenhiserfuneralhome.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.