Irene Poppick

1927 - 2016

Irene "Renie" Poppick, 88, of Murrysville, formerly of Turtle Creek, passed away Saturday, May 25, 2016, at Golden Living Center, Murrysville. She was born July 25, 1927, in Jermyn, a daughter of the late John Poppick and Mary (Suvak) Poppick Dublik. Her father, an immigrant coal miner, died of tuberculosis in 1931 at 39 and is buried in Jermyn. Her mother contracted tuberculosis and was admitted to Trudeau Sanitarium, Saranac Lake, N.Y., where she not only recovered but witnessed the 1936 Olympics. At 4, Irene was sitting on a wall with some playmates when she was pushed off by a neighbor who did not want them there. It would take several years to discover she had dislocated a hip. She was cared for first by her mother's relatives and then by Scranton West Side Hospital for three years, though the medical technology of the day was unable to correct the injury. Her case attracted attention, and she became known in the Scranton Republican and The Scrantonian as "Little Irene." The many Christmas toys donated to her at the time by strangers were distributed equally among the hospitalized children. After leaving the hospital, she attended school in Jermyn for three years before joining her mother, sisters and brothers, who were living in Linhart, Wilkins Township. She graduated from Turtle Creek High School in 1947, then worked at Gordon's Drug Store and Frederick Theater, East Pittsburgh. In 1952, she began work as a secretary at Westinghouse Electric Corp., East Pittsburgh, retiring in 1987. In her later years, the multiple joint replacements she underwent did not deter her from extensive travel with her family and her significant other, the late Robert Plance, of Murrysville. Despite her troublesome and painful physical condition, her positive and cheerful personality was an inspiration to her family and all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her mother; sister, Eleanor Anderson, of Sacramento, Calif.; and brothers, Andrew, of Fresno, Calif., and John, of Irwin, both combat veterans of World War II. She was an aunt of David Anderson, of Butler, Paula (Poppick) Steiner (Tom), of Irwin, Daniel Anderson (Sandi), of New Jersey, Dale Anderson (Cindy), of Rocklin, Calif., Timothy Poppick, of Irwin, Jennifer Jill Anderson, of Massachusetts, and Nancy (Anderson) Bevilacqua, of Lower Burrell; great aunt of Melissa (Anderson) Salsgiver (Sean), of Glen Campbell, Daniel Anderson (Madeline), of Gibsonia, Taylor Arsenault, of Massachusetts, Kyle Anderson, of Portland, Ore., Dominic and Eric Bevilacqua, of Lower Burrell, and Lauren Steiner, of Irwin; and great-great aunt of Gwendolyn Marie Anderson, of Gibsonia.
A private family burial will be held Wednesday at Restland Memorial. A memorial visitiation and service will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, June 10, followed by a service at JOBE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY INC. (Monroeville/Plum), 445 Beatty Road at Route 48 North, Monroeville (412-856-4747). www.jobefuneralhome.com.