Irene Matilda Kachmar

Irene Matilda Ehasz Kachmar passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on November 14, 2025.

Irene was born into a loving family as the 8th and youngest child of Mary and Lawrence Ehasz in Alpha, NJ on February 13, 1924. She shared stories of how much she was loved by her parents and her older siblings, who gave her the nickname "Honey" which continued on through her surviving nieces and nephews.

Irene was blessed with an immense capacity to love; her beloved husband Jack (married 33 years and widowed 44 years), her three children, John, Larry and Janice, grandchildren, great grandchildren, cherished nieces and nephews and anyone privileged to cross her path in life. She lived and was guided by her faith and up to her last days was a prayer warrior for her family, friends, and those on the prayer chain and genuinely included those she had just met. She possessed the attributes of loyalty and dependability while maintaining a steady and quiet demeanor.

Irene was involved in the faith communities where she lived: St. Mary's in Alpha, NJ, St Anne's in Bethlehem, PA, St. Gilbert in Grayslake, IL and St. Patrick's in Iowa City, IA. She participated in Altar & Rosary Society, women's sodality & retreats, Bereavement Assistance Ministry, and Eucharistic Ministry to the sick and homebound. She also volunteered needlework skills for quilts and baptismal garments, made first communion dresses to send abroad and was a baker extraordinaire for all church functions and events as needed. Irene was incredibly social all her life and enjoyed participating in multiple pinochle card clubs, University Club, and Red Hats. She loved entertaining, utilizing her skills as an excellent cook and hostess. She was a true "people person".

This trait was evident in her jobs as she worked in a naval pants' uniform factory during World War II to assist with the cause, and during her career as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone of NJ, and various retail clothing boutiques. Her last employment before retirement was in the business office of a busy nursing home facility in Pennsylvania, which included being the switchboard operator.

Irene loved to travel, especially to holy sites. She took pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Fatima, Lourdes, Medjugorje, Rome, and the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. She also traveled with family and friends internationally to Aruba, Curacao, Bahamas, Jamaica, Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, France, Poland, Hungary and Austria.

Irene's family would like to thank the healthcare partners who supported Irene with excellent care over the years; Dr. Mario Candal, in PA, Dr. Richard Larew, Dr. Glenn Yowell, Dr. Laura Christiansen, Dr. George Sehl, Dr. Michael Reed, Dr. David Boysen and Ann Larew - Creative Care Coordinators, and most recently, the healthcare providers through Iowa City Hospice. Also, much gratitude to those who helped keep Irene beautiful on the outside, hair stylists Cheri and Ashley.

Irene is survived by her son Lawrence Kachmar (Debbie) and daughter Janice Miller (Scott), grandchildren Timothy Kachmar (Lee), Elizabeth Burkhard (Josh), Robert Kachmar (Robyn) Lawrence Kachmar Jr. (Lea), Sammy Kachmar (Kristen), Caitlin Miller Harman (Bond), Matthew Miller (Bri) and Ryan Miller, and great grandchildren Nicholas, Devin & Madelene Kachmar, Jack, Charlie and Isaac Burkhard, Caine, Sawyer, Travis, Kaia & Ronan Kachmar, Brooks, Mia and Lyla Miller and many adoring nieces and nephews. She cherished her grandchildren and great grandchildren and delighted in watching them grow up.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, brothers John & James, sisters Lucy, Helen, Mary, Helene and Julia, her husband John Kachmar Sr. and son John Kachmar Jr.

Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. A rosary will be recited at 10:15 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Memorials for Irene could be directed to Needleworkers Ministry at St. Patrick church or Regina Education Center, Iowa City, IA and she would greatly appreciate a Mass said in her name.

The world was made better for the past 101 ½ years, may Irene's gentle and loving soul rest in peace.