DEENEY, Irene A. (Jordan) 1914-2004

DEENEY, SMITH, MCMILLIN, SMYTHE, LINDERBAUM, PETERS, JORDAN, SENNEFF, ROBEY, LONNING, TRAVIS, DONAHUE

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall
Date: 8/20/2005 at 16:25:33

Irene Alice Deeney
Irene Alice Deeney died Sunday, March 28, 2004 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 31 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Joseph Schneider officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 4:30 p.m. Scripture Service and Rosary and a 5:30 p.m. VFW Auxiliary Service. Memorials may be given to "Friends of St. Patrick's School."

Irene Alice Deeney was born August 1, 1914 in New Albin, the daughter of Arthur B. and Alice Genevieve (Smith) Jordan. She attended elementary school and some high school in Allamakee County.

Following her father's death, her mother married William McMillin from Saskatchewan, Canada, so she moved there in 1929 and finished high school. She returned to Allamakee County in 1936 to take care of her grandfather.

After working a short time in La Crosse, WI, she took nurses training at Willows Maternity Hospital in Kansas City and graduated from beauty school in Waterloo.

She returned to Waukon, where she met Joseph Deeney, and the two were married January 28, 1942 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dorchester.

Irene spent most of her working life as an LPN, working first for Catherine Hall at the maternity hospital and later at Veterans Memorial Hospital, the Waukon Medical Clinic, and finally at the Waukon Good Samaritan Center.

Irene was a faithful member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, very active in its Rosary Society, and numerous other church programs. She was also an active community supporter, being a life member of the VFW Auxiliary, the VFW National Home, Allamakee County Historical Society, and Allamakee County Agricultural Society. She was also a founding member of the Waukon Chapter of Toastmistresses and Waukon Sr. Citizens Group.

Irene enjoyed traveling and took trips to Canada, Ireland, and throughout the United States. She liked people and made many trips to local care facilities and individual homes to visit and help friends. She was also an active volunteer for Native Americans living on the reservation in Chamberlain, SD.

Survivors include a half-brother, Glen (Lois) McMillin, and a step-sister, Opal Smythe, both of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; a sister-in-law, Esther Linderbaum of Ossian; a brother-in-law, Leonard Peters of Hanley, Saskatchewan; an aunt, Erma Jordan of La Crosse; and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her step-father, William McMillin; her husband Joe, who died in 1983; two sisters, Dorothy Senneff and Elnora Robey; and a step-sister, Florence Peters.

Casketbearers are Charles, James, and Joseph Deeney; Robert and Dale Lonning; and Cory, Travis, and Devin Donahue.

©Waukon Standard 2004
source: Waukon Standard, Waukon, Allamakee Co. IA, 3/31/2004