Irene Acres

Irene Acres died on February 26, 2023 in Schaumburg, Illinois. She and her husband, Henry Acres (d. 2015), had lived at the Friendship Village retirement community since 2010. They had moved there from Allentown, Pennsylvania, to be near family. Irene was 96.



She was born Emma Irene Armstrong on February 3, 1927, in Arnprior, Ontario. Her parents were John and Beatrice (Sadler) Armstrong. She and her five beloved siblings (Kai, Muriel, Helen, Jack, and Barbara) grew up in the home where they were all born, which was very near their schools, the outdoor skating rink, and the Ottawa River, where they swam. She had vivid memories of school friends, homemade candy, and snowy winters that included blanketed rides to Christmas dinner in an uncle's jingling two-horse sleigh. After high school she worked briefly in Montreal for the Canadian National Railroad, and soon moved to New York on the invitation of her Aunt Emma and Uncle Ephie. In 1944 Irene enrolled in the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights. She worked at Packer for five years after her graduation, rising through several jobs. She met Henry on Christmas Eve, 1945, when he spotted her in the church choir. They married in Toronto on July 15, 1950. In 1951 they moved from Woodhaven, Queens, to Long Island, where Henry had begun teaching at Hofstra College. In 1967 they and their four kids moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan; and in 1973 to Allentown, Pennsylvania-which remained their home for thirty-seven years. They were devoted members of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator there.



Irene was wonderful; smart, full of life, curious, beautiful, strong, gracious, and hilarious. She made everyone feel welcome and appreciated, and was a delight to be around. Her cooking was legendary. So was her dancing. Family meant everything to her, but she also loved politics, late-night talk radio, fall weather, restaurants, vacations, a cocktail, and plenty of conversation and laughter. She was never happier than when she was in the company of any or all of her ten grandchildren and their own growing families. Her brilliant blue eyes sparkled for all of them.



She is loved and missed by her children Cathleen Acres (William Bateman), Amy Wadhams (Denis Wadhams), Alfred Acres (Christine Tan), and Frances Acres; grandchildren Allison, Hillary (Paul Skarr), Chloe (Max Gersten), Jillian (Dane Harrison), Joseph (Janice Grullon), Julia, Samuel, Audrey, Lucy, James; and great grandchildren Charlie, Will, Ella, Parker, Avery, Briar, Violet, Ava, and Gabriel. A family celebration of Irene's life is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to the exceptional caregivers at Friendship Village: Associate Appreciation Fund / Attn: Jack Victor / Friendship Village / 350 Schaumburg Rd. / Schaumburg, IL 60194