Ms. Coglianese is the widow of Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant Edmond Coglianese, who died fighting a transient hotel fire on January 26, 1986. Their children are Allyson and Matthew.

In 1991, she became one of the founding board members of the Chicago Fire Department Gold Badge Society, a support group and advocate for families of duty death firefighters and paramedics of the CFD. She is currently serving her second four-year term as President. She spearheaded the creation of the CFD Fallen Firefighter/Paramedic Memorial Park on Chicago's lakefront. Since the inception of the Everyone Goes Home® initiatives, she addresses each firefighter candidate class to encourage compliance.

Eileen is a graduate of St. Xavier University and is a substitute teacher at Mother McAuley High School. She has volunteered at the Memorial Weekend since 1998, is a member of the Fire Service Survivors Network, and serves in the Taking Care of Our Own® program. She also volunteers at the IAFF Annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial.