1926 to 2008
Hillcrest/Bruce Lee Memorial Center
Irene 'Jessie' O'Leary, 82, left this world on August 13,
2008, to be with our Lord.
Her family will dearly miss her, especially her smile and
laughter. She suffered from a form of Vascular Dementia.
Irene was born in Pasco on March 27, 1926. She was the
daughter of the late Frank and Jessie Grenz.
She grew up in Pasco and moved to Selah where she graduated.
Irene then made her way back to work at Big Pasco as a
secretary during the war, making many friends laugh along
the way.
After the boys came home from WWII, she married Daniel P.
O'Leary in 1945. Dan and Irene were prolific at having
children, six in all.
During their early marriage, Dan and Irene built a home off
of Road 68 and had horses for the kids. As the family
expanded, they moved into town. With all kinds of spare
time, she opened and ran the Brown Dog diner for several
years on Court Street in Pasco.
She then moved on to work for Safeway as a meatwrapper for
more than 20 years in stores around the Tri-Cities.
After retirement, she could not sit still, so she found
something to do which fit her like a glove crosswalk
attendant for the Pasco School District. She could mother
the kids and keep busy. Mom was a wonderful cook, feeding
and caring for all who came to her home. Her home was always
open to many friends and family. Irene's pies are still
unmatched. Besides her family, her cabin in Dayton was her
love and place of peace. The cabin was a place where many
memories were made and shared amongst her family.
She is survived by her sisters, Evelyn McCourt, Marion
Weimer and Janet Hounder; all of her children and their
spouses, beginning with Patty and Nat Cruzen (Pasco), Tim
and Jan O'Leary (Pasco), Sheri and Monte Akers (Hillsboro,
OR), Cindy and Dr. Jim Campbell (Kennewick), Peggy and Skip
Cornett (Issaquah) and Terry and Carol O'Leary (Mead).
Of all her accomplishments, being a great mother was first
and foremost. Her legacy will continue with her children,
along with her 14 grandchildren, Nat and Dan Cruzen, Shannon
Langford, Erin Silvers, Katie Aguilar, Kyle and Lindsey
Akers, Kahryn Alexander, James Campbell, Kristen and Kenton
Cornett, Casey, Hanna and Patrick O'Leary. She also is
blessed with 13 great-grandchildren and more to come!
Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel; her
parents, Frank and Jessie Grenz; and her twin brothers,
Donald and Dareld Grenz.
A rosary will be held on Monday, August 18th, at 6 p.m. in
Hillcrest/Bruce Lee Memorial Center, 2804 W. Lewis St., in
Pasco, WA.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 19, at 11
a.m. in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1320 W. Henry St., in
Pasco.
Interment will follow at Cityview Cemetery in Pasco. A
reception will be held back at St. Patrick's Church.
To sign the online guestbook, please visit:
www.HillcrestBruceLee.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's
Association. Inland Northwest Chapter or the charity of your
choice.
|
|
|
