Eileen Alexy

Eileen M. Alexy, of Bristol, PA, formerly of Philadelphia, passed away unexpectedly at home on January 22, 2026 at the age of 59.

She was the beloved wife of Joseph Burns and the loving daughter of the late Charles and the late Patricia (nee’ Kurke) Alexy. Devoted sister of Patricia (Don) Stoll, Mark Alexy, and the late Kirk Alexy; sister-in- law of Caroline Miskell (the late William). Precious aunt of Genevieve Stoll, and Stacy, Carolyn, Samantha, Michael, Caitlin, and the late William Miskill Jr.

As the youngest of four children, she was easy going and fun-loving, but she learned early in life that she had to stick up for herself. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 11, Eileen faced some discrimination in the mid to late 70’s with school officials occasionally balking about taking a child with diabetes on school trips. But Eileen was plucky. While she advocated for herself, she also cultivated a positive attitude. She used to say, “Stop talking about what you can’t do. Concentrate on what you can do!” She maintained this attitude as she matured and faced other challenges in her capable way.

She was full of energy as a child always multi-tasking while watching TV and making posters for various school projects. She was artistic. Eileen liked to draw and paint and was firmly committed to finishing what she started. She loved projects.

At the right time, Eileen met the love of her life, Joe Burns, at Holy Family University (around the time they were both graduating) in 1994, and they have been a couple ever since. He liked to cook; she liked to bake. They loved technology, wine, and each other.

Professionally, Eileen was an excellent student earning a BSN at Holy Family University and an MSN and Ph.D. in Forensic Psychiatric Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. She received the Distinguished Nursing Alumni Award from Holy Family as well as the Ann W. Burgess Endowed Student Award from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing for the quality of her dissertation.

After attaining her BSN, Eileen worked as a nurse in the Jefferson Geriatric Psychiatry Unit at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience. She selected Geriatrics because her grandmother lived with the family for 30 years. Eileen really liked older people: she loved their senses of humor and cared for them and their families. She carried this compassion for others to the College of New Jersey where she was a full professor for over 20 years with a distinguished academic resume of research, writing, teaching, and presenting. She brought practical clinical experience as well as an established research agenda to TCNJ. Eileen enjoyed supervising student clinical experiences. Her academic background and nursing experience proved invaluable in training students. She was popular with students who appreciated her quiet counsel and her direct and honest manner.

As a student-centered service-oriented professor and mentor, Eileen was an active member in the nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau International serving in leadership roles her entire career. She maintained that involvement from her student days at Holy Family University and the University of Pennsylvania to her academic career at The College of New Jersey as the Faculty Counselor to the campus chapter Delta Nu for over ten years. She loved planning meetings and honoring student inductees.

Eileen loved flowers. She loved purple. She loved her family. She loved her students. Only those closest to her know that she was also brave. Our loss is incalculable. We will miss her in all her roles: wife, sister, aunt, cousin, teacher, mentor, and friend.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026 at the Washington Crossing Inn, 1295 General Washington Memorial Blvd., Washington’s Crossing, PA. Relatives, friends, and colleagues are invited to attend this celebration with visitation beginning at 12 noon followed by Words of Remembrance which will start at 12:30 PM. A luncheon will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Eileen’s memory to Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nursing. Donations may be made on the website at foundation.sigmanursing.org. When the page is open, scroll to the Patricia E. Thompson Global Nursing Research Fund. Also, please check the box directly below “Donation to a loved one or colleague,” so our family can acknowledge your donation. To share a memory of Eileen, please visit www.tjfluehr.com

Florists, all deliveries must be made to Washington Crossing Inn. Please contact them directly for instructions.