Eileen Gano

After a long and courageous journey of medical challenges and later, ALS, Eileen Therese Gano (41) passed away peacefully in her home in Woodland Hills, California on January 29^th, 2025.  She was surrounded by her loving parents, caregiver, and beloved pets.

Celebration of Life to be held in Redwood Falls on May 3^rd, 2025, at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home from 2-5pm. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Eileen was born June 22, 1983 in Jackson, Minnesota to Ken and Maureen Gano.  She was raised in Redwood Falls, MN and was the proud older sister of Linda and David.  During her primary and secondary education, she explored her natural artistic gifts in creative writing, art, and theater – while always preferring to remain behind the scenes. 

She began her fiercely independent adulthood by moving to Willmar, MN, to complete her high school education via a post-secondary opportunity.  

Her desire for travel and a metropolitan lifestyle took her to the Minneapolis area, Spokane, WA, Thailand with the US Peace Corps, a solo trip to Europe, and ultimately, her home of 15 years in the hills of California. 

Her genuine love for people, especially children, as well as the arts, led her to complete degrees in early childhood education and child development, as well as a graphic design degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. 

Utilizing her education, intellect, and natural abilities allowed her to pursue and succeed in her many personal and professional interests.  Eileen educated and cared for children, provided support to individuals as a professional caregiver, created graphic design projects for clients and loved ones, and spent time as a senior analyst and manager in market research, business intelligence, and human resources. 

Eileen cared deeply for all people and was an advocate for those in need. She gave her time and resources to fight for human and basic rights by engaging in political campaigns, marches, and social media accounts.

Distance didn’t impact the love she had for her family.  Her bright light reached us all from afar and will continue to shine from above.

Eileen is survived by her parents, Ken and Maureen Gano of Redwood Falls, MN; sister, Linda (Nick) Stoterau, nieces, Lydia, Caroline, Norah, and nephew, Joe of Jamestown ND; brother, David (Amy) Gano, niece, Charlotte, and nephews, Andrew and Connor of Bemidji, MN, caregiver and loving friend, Isa Mejia of Woodland Hills, CA, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Eileen is preceded in death by her grandparents.

Prior to her physical departure, Eileen shared these words: 

Of all the things I learned, I learned that connection matters most. Self-sufficiency, “self-made”, independent bootstraps stuff is stuff of nonsense. We don’t have to strive to be a David facing Goliath. We can all be a team instead, right now, bigger and bolder and braver. You don’t have to stand up to bullies alone. Stand with victims instead, simply stand shoulder to shoulder or walk away together. Assure your neighbor they deserve to be treated with respect, dignity & kindness. Treat yourself that way. It will come back to you. Developing friendships is better than developing thick skins, emotional armor and self-defeating habits. It’s better for all of us. Humans are a social species. We cannot survive without each other. Community matters.