Eileen Hinch Locke

Born in 1927, Eileen Therese Buekers Hinch Locke died peacefully on December 9, 2020. Eileen was born two years before the Great Depression and lived in Detroit with her mother, Mary Estelle (Butler) Buekers, her father, Joseph John Buekers, and her sister, Lois Marie Buekers (Walters McQuade), where their door was always open to a number of colorful aunts and uncles who lived in the area. As a young girl, she attended St. Philip Neri Catholic School in Detroit. After completing high school, Eileen worked as a retail assistant at Himelhoch’s and begin her studies in 1947 at Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (Michigan State University), where she met lifelong friends, Betty Sweet, Liz Tessin and Mary Lou Kaufeld.

Her love story began when she met Leo “Lee” Hinch during her time at college. They were married in 1951 at St. Ambrose in Grosse Pointe. After Lee finished law school, the couple moved to their first house on Tonawanda Avenue where they became best friends with Robert and Bette Maybee. In 1955, they welcomed their first child, Mark Gerard and in 1957, they welcomed daughter, Jahel Ann. The couple went on to build a house on Chalgrove Road in Troy, where they lived happily for 20 years. Eileen was involved in the Troy Historical Society and the Sacred Heart Altar Society. Additionally, Eileen and Lee provided their children with private school educations at Sacred Heart Parish School, Brother Rice and the Academy of the Sacred Heart.

Ready to settle into retirement, the couple relocated to Rochester Hills. Tragedy struck on February 11, 1984 when Lee died suddenly. After a period of intense grieving, a friendship between Eileen and her neighbor, William “Bill” Locke, blossomed into something more, and the two were married on March 7, 1987 in Florida. Bill predeceased her on March 2, 2020. Eileen is survived by children, Mark Gerard Hinch (Tina), Jahel Hinch Nolan (Michael) and grandchildren, Leah Garland Nolan (Joseph Schneider and dog, Clue), Alexander Leo Hinch, Sr. Mary Christina of the Holy Eucharist (Caley Eileen Nolan), Lauren Rene’ Nolan (Detlev Goedbloed and dog, Toast), Philip John Hinch and sister-in-law, Marian Locke Faupel (Kirk), as well as several close nieces and nephews including Karen Schwartz (Weldon), William Hinch (Judy), David Hinch, Sandra Smith, Greg Smith and Daniel Smith (Karen) and good friend, Jane Hall.

Eileen was a loving mother, mother-in-law and grandmother (Gramma). She always had a big smile on her face, sent cards in the mail for every holiday, never went without saying, “I love you” and stood in the driveway to wave goodbye until she could not be seen anymore. Her family is at peace knowing she is with Lee and Bill now, still smiling and waving goodbye to us from heaven.

Funeral services will be private. Donations may be made to the Carmelite Monastery, 4300 Mt. Carmel Dr. NE, Ada, Michigan 49301.