Irene O. Burns

Irene Burns (nee Stuparek), 88, beloved wife of the late Harold, loving mother and grandmother, died November 11, 2012, after a lengthy illness. Irene met her husband in Austria, and they married after the completion of his tour of duty in Europe with the US Army's 31st Battalion during WWII. She was working as a chemist at the BF Goodrich Chemical Plant in Avon Lake when she left to become a homemaker. After her children were older, she became a teacher at St. Vincent DePaul School in Elyria, where she was also a member of the parish. She later taught at St. Stanislaus School in Lorain. After retiring from her teaching career, Irene enjoyed gardening, baking, needlework, and traveling to Ireland, Scotland, and Austria with Harold. Throughout her life, she lent her artistic talents to numerous church and school events, and was an ardent supporter of wildlife preservation efforts. She is survived by her son, Patrick (Terri), of Lakewood, her daughter, Luba (Frank) Dobos, of Enderlin, ND, and her 3 grandchildren. Donations in Irene's memory may be made to the National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190-5362, of which she was a lifelong member. Funeral services will be private and are being handled by the Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Ave., Lorain.