Irene K. Wagner

Irene was a loving mother, wife, grandmother and a friend to many.  She was called home at age 91 on January 14, 2021, to dance in the heavens with her late husband Joseph who had been patiently awaiting her for almost 5 years to the day.

Irene and Joe met in 1948 over the phone, she a telephone operator and he a US Coast Guardsmen stationed in East Moriches.  Married for 64 years, they raised 5 great kids who blessed them with a beautiful assortment of 18 grand, great-grand and great-great grandchildren.

Family was everything to Irene and as a stay-at-home mom she created a warm and loving home.  She also had a successful career as a Tupperware manager and our house was filled with it!

Irene was graceful and poised and shared her wonderful smile generously.  As master of many talents, she was a marvelous cook and baker and we all share that love of food and good nutrition.   Quilting was a relaxing hobby, but she could sew beautiful clothes like nobody’s business.  She loved road trips, to spend time with family and the joy of exploring the US – many of them spur of the moment like deciding in the morning to drive to Vermont that day to pick up maple syrup or a great cheddar cheese.  There was apple picking with friends in the Fall, visiting with friends and family (especially to see the grandchildren!) and taking the auto-train down to warm, sunny Florida to spend Winters.

As a young girl she excelled in English at school and was active in drama.   She was always a big fan of crossword and Sudoku and reading.  She enjoyed old movies and re-runs of Little House on the Prairie, Murder She Wrote, English comedies like As Time Goes By…. She loved her flowers, especially red roses and African Violets and had a green thumb.  Later in life she took great pleasure in watching the birds congregate outside her window at the bird feeder and bath, or expanding her already great treasury of recipes watching endless cooking shows, playing jigsaw puzzles on her iPad, enjoying and mentoring her aides and chatting with family.

Irene’s faith guided her through any storms that life blew her way.  It was her pillar of strength.  She found great comfort in prayer, at home she regularly recited the Rosary and also participated in prayer groups.  For many years she raised her voice in song in the church choir.  Sunday morning was a special time for her to receive the host at home and pray and chat with her visiting church lady.

Irene made everyone feel special and loved.  She taught us resiliency, independence, love, generosity, kindness, curiosity, creativity, strength, courage, good health, appreciation and gratitude and she freely shared her wisdom and joy with whomever connected with her.  She was simply incredible and we are tremendously lucky to have had her as our mother and for all these wonderful years. Her chair is empty now and she is so missed, but our hearts are very full with love and sweet memories.

Godspeed Mom, may the angels guide you back home.