Eileen M. Kline

Age 61, of Upper St. Clair, passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. Eileen was born on February 6, 1960, daughter to Joyce Mizner and the late James (Jim) Mizner. She is survived as the beloved wife of Dr. Ernest R. Kline; devoted mother of Jennifer (Danny) White, E. Richard Kline, Elizabeth Kline and James Kline; expectant grandmother of baby White; sister of James (Mary) Mizner, Kathleen (Anthony) Vardaro, Stephen (Jocelyn) Mizner, John (Melissa) Mizner, Patricia (Mark) Fiely and Colleen (David) Major; dear friend of Peggy Eastly, Anne Haddad and Becky Surma.

Eileen graduated from Meadville Area Senior High School and St. Francis School of Nursing. In the early 1980's, she moved to Pittsburgh to pursue an opportunity to work on cutting-edge medical treatments and research. She was an integral part of Dr. Thomas Starzyl's liver transplantation program at Presbyterian Hospital (now UPMC), one of only a few hospitals in the world performing liver, heart, heart-lung and kidney transplants. At Presbyterian Hospital, Eileen went on to care for the patients of world-renowned physicians who were revolutionizing transplantation techniques and treatments. Eileen experienced the ups and downs, excitements and difficulties of miraculous recoveries and witnessed patients receive a second chance at life. She knew her work at Presbyterian Hospital would advance medicine and science and impact countless people.

Eileen left Presbyterian Hospital to start a family with her loving husband and raised four children – her greatest pride in life. She actively volunteered at their schools and loved working with children. Ten years after leaving her nursing career, Eileen returned to passionately serve as a school nurse in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District for 20+ years.

In 2010, Eileen was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy. Shortly thereafter, she underwent a successful heart transplant procedure that provided her with a second chance at life, echoing the work and care that she had provided to others throughout her career. Through the care of her doctors and nurses, endless support and prayers from family and friends, and her own resilient will to live, Eileen was able to live her life fully for the next 10+ years. Not a day went by that Eileen did not thank God and her donor for the greatest gift she's ever received: the additional time spent being with the people she loved.

Eileen made the most of every moment and especially cherished time spent with family and friends. She maintained an active lifestyle that included baking, traveling, gardening, walking and caring for those in need. She played a key role in educating High School students on Organ and Tissue Donation to increase awareness of the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) and the American Heart Association. As her final gift to society, she donated her body for research so that others may also be given a second chance at life.

Her spirit lives on through her loving husband and her four beautiful children.

Family and friends are welcome on Thursday, April 8th 6-8 pm and Friday, April 9th 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm at WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE (412-563-2800) located at 1650 Greentree Rd, Scott Twp. 15220. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 10 am at Resurrection Parish, St. Thomas More Church located at 126 Fort Couch Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. In Eileen's honor, donations may be made to the Center for Organ Recovery & Education and to the American Heart Association. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 guidelines, the use of facial masking and social distancing required. www.slaterfuneral.com