Apr 24, 2018

Irene M. Parks died peacefully Sunday, April 22, 2018, in Family Hospice and Palliative Care, Mt. Lebanon.

Irene was born October 21, 1924, in Sydney, Ohio. In her youth, Irene excelled in school, especially spelling, English and accounting. She was an accomplished lover of the arts even at a young age and competed in tap, tumbling and piano, while also enjoying oil painting and pastels.

Irene worked at Wright Field during World War II for Col. Tabor of Ordnance, until she moved to Pittsburgh with her mother, Nora Cardone Summers, and stepfather, Silas G. Summers, in 1945. There, she worked for Hormel and Hydraulic Manufacturing, where she met John E. Parks, a salesman for the latter. She married John in September 1950, and they built a family together in Mt. Lebanon. In 1968, John, Irene and their four daughters moved to Upper St. Clair, where John and Irene remained. John passed in 2011.

As an adult, in her continued pursuit of arts and culture, Irene learned to play guitar, taught herself needle arts and found a passion for writing poetry. Beyond her creative hobbies, Irene sought a number of philanthropic endeavors. She became involved through her church with fundraising for Wesley Institute and formed Wesley Institute Guild in 1970. Irene also studied the Bethel Bible Series and subsequently taught at Christ United Methodist Church for two years. She joined South Hills Performing Arts, sat on its board of directors and became guild president in the 1970s. Irene sold real estate for 15 years in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. She learned to type braille and volunteered her time converting novels, school books and even an electric keyboard handbook for the blind. Irene continued her volunteer work after moving to Friendship Village in both the residents association and employee appreciation fund.

Irene was a longtime member of Christ United Methodist Church, St. Clair Country Club and Pittsburgh Athletic Association. She held a deep passion for music, dancing and film. She enjoyed bowling, bridge, learning the computer and mastering both video and computer games, much to the delight of her grandsons. Of course, her greatest passion was family: her four daughters and their children and grandchildren.

Irene is survived by daughters Sandy Ritchey, Janet Smith, Nancy Bower and Susan Gout. She has eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 12, in the St. Clair Room of Friendship Village, 1290 Boyce Road, Pittsburgh.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an organization the donor holds most dear.

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