Eileen Mary Maher, 69, of Natchez, Mississippi, died Sunday, August 31, 2025 after a brutal battle with peritoneal cancer. She was born January 28, 1956 in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Mary and Richard Maher. Mary was a board-certified registered nurse; Richard was an Internist. 

Eileen was predeceased by her husband, G. Mark LaFrancis, her parents and her younger brother, Christopher Maher. 

She is survived by her children, Mark LaFrancis and his wife Kriss, and Mary LaFrancis Symes, her husband Josh, and their daughter, Grace Harper Symes, born July 7, 2024. 

Eileen also leaves behind her sister, Maureen Maher Cotter, and her husband, Mike Cotter; her godchild Laura Cotter O’Brien, and her husband Shaun, and daughters, Abby and Caitlin; Christopher and Leah Cotter and their daughter, Elizabeth Barsalou and her husband Brian and Carolyn St. Lawerence her husband, Pat, and their daughters Kierston, Quin, and Julia. 

Eileen was a lifelong learner. She graduated from Boston College in 1978 with degrees in English and Philosophy. She earned a Master’s Degree in American History from Boston College in 1978. In 1987 she received a Master’s of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language from the Elms College. In 1995, she graduated from Western New England University with a Juris Doctorate degree. In 2014 she graduated from Alcorn University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing. In 2017 she graduated from University of Mississippi School of Nursing with a Master’s of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. 

Eileen’s work career closely paralleled her academic progress. She started her teaching career in 1978 and took a job teaching children with learning disabilities English as a Second Language. In 1995 Eileen started her career as an attorney in both family and criminal law. She would later go on to become a Justice Court Judge for the Southern district of Adams County from 2017 to 2024. 

One of Eileen’s favorite memories was when she scored a hole-in-one on September 6, 2010. 

Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Friday September 05, 2025 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Daniel O’Connor officiating.

Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Natchez Adams County Humane Society.