Irene Kunalaaq Schene

1935 - 2024

Irene Kunalaaq (Field) Schene passed on peacefully in her own home in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Sunday, the 29th of September, 2024, at the age of 89 due to Alzheimer's disease.

Irene was born May 19, 1935, in Noorvik, Alaska, to Joe and Maggie Field. She moved to Fairbanks in 1955, and it was there in the mid-1960s she met and later married James Wm Schene (of Batesville, Indiana). They married in Fairbanks on Jan. 13, 1969. Jim worked as a journeyman electrician, who retired after 35 years with the IBEW Local 1547 and resides in Fairbanks.

Irene's early life was marked with tragedy at only 8 years of age when her mother, Maggie, died from tuberculosis. She and siblings, Ivan and Bertha, were passed among several families while their Papa Joe worked as captain of a river barge. Papa Joe later remarried, and the family reunited and grew with more children.

Irene eventually moved to Fairbanks and began working various jobs and enjoying the city life and all its entrapments. A very hard worker with a strong work ethic and great tenacity - she would often talk about washing dishes at the Traveler's Inn and sewing with Laura Wright - who encouraged her to get her Social Security number so she could pay taxes. And, even when she no longer worked outside of the home, she would rarely be found with idle hands. Always working on projects around the home, cooking, sewing, cleaning - never lazy!

Irene loved her husband, Jim, fiercely, and her children and grandchildren dearly. But her greatest love was Jesus! She was radically saved in the early 1970s through the radio ministry of Cabin Prayer Meeting of the Air (James and Helen Barefoot of Polar Evangelism) which aired on KJNP from North Pole, Alaska. Her life is a true testament of the transforming power of God.

Her life became one of service to God by spreading the gospel and of service to others with a happy and gregarious spirit that spread joy and laughter wherever she went. [Philippians 4:4] All who met her became family and soon realized that every other phrase they heard from her would be "taikuu, Jesus!" or "Praise God!" Her thankful spirit and language was infectious - one couldn't help but smile and be thankful, too. [Philippians 4:6] She was very outspoken about the gospel and her relationship with Jesus - always praising the Lord and sharing her testimony with everyone. Strangers were never strangers for very long.

She loved learning, exploring and was always ready to "take a ride." She helped many friends and family members from the villages by driving them around town to shop or visit. (Her actual driving, however, is a whole other story ... IYKYK). She did love to laugh and have fun - she often enjoyed raucous game nights that would last into the wee hours of the morning with loud laughter and lots of snacks!

She could often be found praying in English and in Inupaiq in the middle of the night or sitting at the table in the morning with her Bible in front of her. She was a tenacious prayer warrior - not only for her family, children and grandchildren but for every person that she met! Even if she forgot their name she would pray, "You know who I mean, Lord!"

The day she left this Earth was the day she lived for - the day she met her savior, Jesus, face to face. [Philippians 1:21] Her only request would have been that each of you right now would turn your life over to Jesus Christ and be saved by grace through faith! "Taikuu, Jesus! Thank you for loving us just the way we are!" [Philippians 1:3-6]

Irene is survived by her husband of 55 years, Jim; her son, Jim (Crunchy); her daughters, Veda Rae, Cindy, April (Doll) and Kena (Na); many beloved grandchildren; and many loved great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, most of her siblings, Uncles Louie and AJ, her first son, her eldest daughter - Isabell (Babe), and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. (complete list below).

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Fairbanks so that family and friends can plan for travel. In lieu of flowers Irene's family requests that donations be made to KJNP in North Pole, Alaska, or to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.

Taikuu.

Irene is survived by husband, Jim Schene, Fairbanks; son-in-law, Jerry Rice, Fairbanks; daughter, Veda Rae (Mulluk) Patterson, Noorvik, AK (ORV) and kids Murphy Patterson Jr. and Amelia Kingik and kids Murphy Patterson III; Denali, Drezdan and Kieran Patterson; Zantaya and Da'rell Kingik; Thomas Sampson and Lucas Sookiyak; Isabell Patterson and kids Melody, Iris, William Patterson; Kierstan and Stan Harvey and kids Tristan, Zeke, Elijah; Leona Patterson and Andrew Nakarak and kids Bryce, Liam, Griffin, Brooke; Christian Patterson and child Sarah; son, James "Crunchy" Schene and Rose Alexia, Fairbanks; daughter-in-law, Dawn Miller, Fairbanks, and kids, Jimmy and Kallista Schene, Barrie, Ontario, Canada; Zach Schene and Katie Schene, Fairbanks; Jarek and Victoria Miller, Barrie, Ontario, Canada; Jordan Miller and child Shyahva, Fairbanks; daughter, Cindy (Smith) and Chip Fields, Kotzebue, AK (OTZ) and kids, Christina Fields, Wasilla, AK, Loren Fields and Sherry Horner and kids Conner and Adalynn, Palmer, AK; Danielle and Ryan Rock and child Lacey, Point Hope/Anchorage, AK; Laura; Devin; daughter, April "Doll" and Greg Pugh, Nibley, Utah, and kids Harlee and Alex Harvey and kids Harper, Asher, Alexander, Ambrose, Atticus, Point Hope, AK; Melanie Holland and kids Greysen, Riley, Fairbanks; Delaina; Giana, Nibley, Utah; daughter, Kena "Na" (Field) Johnson, James Johnson and child Sarah, Fairbanks.

Grandson, Sean and Jamie Rice, North Pole, AK, and kids Kacey Woodruff and Christian Reynolds and kids Jr, Ava and a baby in March, Enterprise, Alabama; Jazlyn Anderson-Rice and child Yoselin, Hertford, North Carolina; Isabelle Rice and child Citlalli, Denver, Colorado; grandson, Corey Rice, Fairbanks, and kids Corey Jr. "Bubba" and Alyssa Rice and kids Piper, Everlee –Cleveland, Texas; Skyler Rice, Fairbanks; Stacia Rice; Sundai Rice, Houston, Texas; Christian Rice, Fairbanks; granddaughter, Leisha "Atting" Rice and kids Jason Rice, Jayla (Schloesser), Kenny Evans and child Royal, Fairbanks; sister, Bertha "Boota" Wells – ORV; sister, Vernetta (Nay) Moberly, Anchorage, AK.

Preceded in death by father and mother Joe and Maggie Field; stepmother Pauline Field; infant/child siblings Irene, Helen, David Field - ORV; brother-in-law, Alaska Sate Trooper Kim Nay - OTZ; daughter, Isabell "Babe" Field Rice, Fairbanks; infant son, Lockhardt; uncles, Earl Louie Schene, Chicken, Alaska, and Adrian J. Schene, Fairbanks; brother, Ivan Field, sister-in-law Ramona Field; great-grandson, Kenneth Ballot; brother, William Field; brother-in-law, Frank Wells; granddaughter, Sarah Patterson; and five; great-grandchildren, Dawnielle, Dezman, Jacob, Iqagin, and Jewelz – ORV.