Eileen Marie LaCanne

Service Details

Services for Eileen will be held at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home & Crematory, 4600 County Line Road, Racine. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 29, followed by a service at 4 pm. Interment will be private.

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If you listened in on the Christmas Eve parties hosted by Eileen and Ron LaCanne over the decades, you would hear Eileen’s infectious laughter ringing out at every single one. This despite the many deep hardships in her nine decades of life that would leave most people in tears.

The former Eileen Eichler found strength and hope in laughter. She shared it without hesitation or reservation. Even in her waning days, shouldering a fatal disease, she found time to laugh and hope. Turn an ear toward eternity now and you might still hear Eileen’s laughter from Heaven.

Eileen Marie LaCanne, 85, died at home in Racine on Sunday, March 16, 2025, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was the eldest of six children of Alex and Gertrude (Proeber) Eichler, born on February 7, 1940, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Racine. She graduated from William Horlick High School in June 1958.

Eileen married Ronald C. LaCanne on June 15, 1963, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Racine. They were married for more than 51 years until Ron’s death on Sept. 25, 2014.

Her vocation as a mother brought Eileen immense joy, but also life-altering suffering. From the earliest days as parents, she and Ron knew their son Patrick would face life-long heart trouble and multiple disabilities.

They saw Patrick through surgeries and countless trips to doctors and specialists, dealing with his debilitating seizures. They made a brave decision to take Pat to the Mayo Clinic in early 1977 for a revolutionary—and successful—procedure to remove the part of his brain causing the seizures.

Eileen tirelessly dedicated herself to providing Patrick with a happy life no matter the challenges. That meant learning all about old cartoons, professional wrestling and the latest news tidbits and film releases from Hollywood. All while raising two other beautiful children and attempting to somehow balance it all. She suffered a broken heart when Patrick died on Oct. 5, 2002. He was 38.

Eileen was a dedicated bibliophile, poring over thousands of titles across the years. There was always room for just one more book, although not always time to read them all. She was an author at heart who longed to turn her experiences into a best-selling novel. She committed her joys, sorrows and stories to paper, faithfully keeping a journal her entire life.

From being family photographer to a masterful cook who hosted an annual Christmas Eve party for dozens of relatives, Eileen was a woman of many talents. And much love. She poured that out on her husband, children and grandchildren. Her impressive wit and dry sense of humor were something to behold, especially when things upset her “sense of perpendicularity” or when she used Johny Carson-like comedic timing to ask, “Is it hot in here, or is it just me?”

Eileen is survived by her children, Susan LaCanne of Burlington, Christopher (Elise) LaCanne of Caledonia, and Denise (Ray) Kano of Torrance, Calif.; brothers Allen (Rae) Eichler of Naples, Fla., Mike (Sandilane) Eichler of Racine, Don Eichler and Kevin Eichler of Canoga Park, Calif.; sister Liz (John) Schoenknecht of Verona; sister-in-law Barbara (Bill) Ernst of Waterford; special friend Jack Christensen of Racine; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Stevie (Maggie Matson) Hanneman of McFarland, Samantha Hanneman of Oak Creek, Ruby Hanneman of Milwaukee, Geoffrey LaCanne of Racine, Josh LaCanne of Caledonia; Nick and Alex Kano of Torrance, Calif., and great-granddaughters Gwen and Sabrina Hanneman of McFarland.

Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, son Patrick, her parents, and in-laws, Clarence and Julia LaCanne.

Services for Eileen will be held at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home & Crematory, 4600 County Line Road, Racine. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 29, followed by a service at 4 pm. Interment will be private.