Irene Levy

Irene Fern Levy (née Eisenberg) passed away peacefully in the early morning of Thursday, December 4, 2025, at IndianSpring Skilled Nursing Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, following complications from a fall in October. She was 77 years old.

Born in the Bronx, New York, on June 26, 1948, Irene was the only child of Nathan and Edith Eisenberg. From a young age she showed remarkable intelligence and curiosity. She excelled in mathematics at James Van Buren High School in Queens and served as a reporter and editor for the Van Buren Bee, where she interviewed celebrities of the 1960s, including members of the Rolling Stones, whom she adored. She treasured the close-up photographs she took of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards when they rode together in a taxi during those years.

Irene graduated with high honors from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1969, where she met her future husband, Martin Levy. They married that same year and shared nearly 57 years together.

She went on to earn a master's degree in Education and Psychology from SUNY Cortland and began her career as a preschool teacher at SUNY Binghamton, eventually serving as Head Teacher. Though she left teaching to follow Martin's academic career, Irene never stopped learning or creating. She discovered a deep passion for pottery and built a home studio together with Martin where they crafted and sold their pieces at arts and crafts shows. She also taught wheel throwing and hand building techniques, as well as raku firing techniques, finding joy in sharing her creativity with others.

In April 1981, Irene and Martin welcomed their son, Paul Michael Levy, while living in Manhattan, Kansas. Shortly after, the family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where Martin began his career as a professor. In 1985 they settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, which became their lifelong home. There, Irene gave birth to their daughter, Rachel Allison Levy, in 1989. Irene embraced motherhood wholeheartedly, dedicating herself to creating a warm, imaginative, and loving home while continuing to nurture her creative pursuits. Over the years she explored not only pottery, but jewelry making, beading, knitting, and sewing.

Irene was also a lifelong Disney fan, especially devoted to The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She traveled to Disney World often, where she formed close friendships with fellow fans and organized gatherings that brought people together from across the country. Her warmth and humor made her easy to love, and her kindness left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Above all else, Irene loved her family and her dogs, who were her constant companions and greatest joy in later years. She took endless pride in her children and grandchildren and found deep happiness in every moment spent with them.

Irene is survived by her husband, Martin; her son, Paul, and his children Courtney, Caroline, Eleanore, and Arthur; her daughter, Rachel, and her son Robin; and her many dear friends. She will be remembered for her creativity, generosity, and boundless heart and as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, artist, and friend whose spirit will live on in all who knew her.

Services will be held at Weil Kahn Funeral Home, located at 8350 Cornell Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249 on Sunday, December 7th at 2:00 P.M. Interment will take place Friday, December 12th at 2:00 P.M. at New Montefiore Cemetery, located at 1180 Wellwood Ave, West Babylon, NY 11704. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Morris Animal Foundation or GRRAND Golden Retriever Rescue, two organizations that Irene felt strongly about.