As a small child she was called Dottie Dimples which led her family and later, her husband, to call her Dot throughout life. Irene was a graduate of Clarion Normal School. She began her career as a teacher and later a secretary for a law firm in Pittsburgh. In 1932, she married and was a homemaker for 63 years. She was an amazing cook and enjoyed traveling, camping, and most of all, her family, and family reunions. Irene was a faithful attendee of the Beaver United Methodist Church where she volunteered selflessly and was a constant presence at the rotary dinners. She was the former President of the Women's Society of Christian Service, a member of the Lois Miriam Circle of the Beaver United Methodist Church, and a member of the Mizpah Bible Sunday School Class. At the age of 95, she stopped driving the 'old ladies' to church, but she kept on helping with the prayer circle. She celebrated her 100th birthday with a shout out from Willard Scott on the Today Show, followed by a party on the veranda at Franciscan Manor with friends and family from all over the country.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Brooks; three sisters, Florence Merrill, Grace Hartman, and Elizabeth Cummings; her husband, Orval; a son, Robert; a daughter, JoAnn DeFrance, and her oldest friend, Pauline Gibson.
She is survived by her son in-law, Jim DeFrance, Frankford, DE; granddaughters, Margot DeFrance, New York City and Jackie Silva, Ellensburg, WA, and two step grandsons, Randy Wheeler, Ellensburg WA, and Robert Allen, Knoxville, TN; a great-granddaughter, Hanna Silva; great-step granddaughters, Avery Wheeler and Summer Allen; great-step grandson, Brandon Allen and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. We will miss her laugh, her unflinching support, and her love.
Family and friends will be received at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 19, in the NOLL FUNERAL HOME INC., 333 Third St., Beaver, followed by a noon memorial service and luncheon at the Wooden Angel. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.
A private interment will take place in Rimersburg Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Franciscan Manor for the kindness and loving care that they gave our 'Nana', and to her close friends in Beaver for always being there for her.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her name be made to the United Methodist Women, web link attached: http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umw/donate.cfm?div=3&code=3019237.
As a small child she was called Dottie Dimples which led her family and later, her husband, to call her Dot throughout life. Irene was a graduate of Clarion Normal School. She began her career as a teacher and later a secretary for a law firm in Pittsburgh. In 1932, she married and was a homemaker for 63 years. She was an amazing cook and enjoyed traveling, camping, and most of all, her family, and family reunions. Irene was a faithful attendee of the Beaver United Methodist Church where she volunteered selflessly and was a constant presence at the rotary dinners. She was the former President of the Women's Society of Christian Service, a member of the Lois Miriam Circle of the Beaver United Methodist Church, and a member of the Mizpah Bible Sunday School Class. At the age of 95, she stopped driving the 'old ladies' to church, but she kept on helping with the prayer circle. She celebrated her 100th birthday with a shout out from Willard Scott on the Today Show, followed by a party on the veranda at Franciscan Manor with friends and family from all over the country.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Brooks; three sisters, Florence Merrill, Grace Hartman, and Elizabeth Cummings; her husband, Orval; a son, Robert; a daughter, JoAnn DeFrance, and her oldest friend, Pauline Gibson.
She is survived by her son in-law, Jim DeFrance, Frankford, DE; granddaughters, Margot DeFrance, New York City and Jackie Silva, Ellensburg, WA, and two step grandsons, Randy Wheeler, Ellensburg WA, and Robert Allen, Knoxville, TN; a great-granddaughter, Hanna Silva; great-step granddaughters, Avery Wheeler and Summer Allen; great-step grandson, Brandon Allen and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. We will miss her laugh, her unflinching support, and her love.
Family and friends will be received at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 19, in the NOLL FUNERAL HOME INC., 333 Third St., Beaver, followed by a noon memorial service and luncheon at the Wooden Angel. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.
A private interment will take place in Rimersburg Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Franciscan Manor for the kindness and loving care that they gave our 'Nana', and to her close friends in Beaver for always being there for her.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her name be made to the United Methodist Women, web link attached: http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umw/donate.cfm?div=3&code=3019237.
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