Irene Opalach

Irene L Opalach, age 89 of Middletown, Delaware passed away at Christiana Hospital on December 28, 2021 surrounded by family members. 

She was born in Chester, Pennsylvania to the late Walter and Laura (nee Swinuck) Opalach.  Irene lived in Wilmington, Delaware most of her life with her mother and father.  She attended St. Hedwig’s School briefly, but due to her condition of Cerebral Palsy, was unable to continue.   At that time, there were no special education classes in most schools.

After her parents passed away, Irene went to live with her brother and their families in New Castle, DE.   She lived with them for 10 years until in 1997, it was necessary for additional health needs that she be placed in Arbors Nursing Facility in New Castle.  She remained there for 10 years and then transferred to Cadia/Broad Meadow Nursing Home in Middletown, DE.   She lived there for the next 15 years where she received excellent care, until her passing.

Irene loved the beach, and as a young girl would enjoy going to the beach with her sister, Christine.   Later, she would go on trips to Wildwood with her brother Joe and his family.   For the better part of the last several years, she looked forward to going on trips with her niece, Karen and nephew, George to their beach house in Sea Isle City.  Other activities she enjoyed were bingo at the nursing home, gin rummy, crafts, and painting.   When she was at Arbors, a local artist came in to teach and work with the residents.   Irene did about five or six  8”x10” paintings.   She gave most of them away to people who admired them and kept a couple to hang in her room.   The artist entered three of them in a local contest for disabled artists and Irene won 2 blue ribbons. 

Irene enjoyed being around family and going to parties.  And, always liked getting her hair done and dressing up.

Irene was predeceased by her father, Walter J Opalach, Sr.; her Mother, Laura S Opalach; her sister, Christine Opalach Angeline; her sister-in-law, Patricia Candice MacFarland Opalach; and her brother, Walter J. Opalach, Jr.

She is survived by her brother, Joseph and his wife Roseann; her nephews, Joe, Jr.  and his wife, Pam; David, and his wife, Kirsten; niece, Karen Angeline Williams and her husband, George; niece, Judi Cooney and her husband, Danny; niece, Diane Yocum and her husband, Mike; niece, Cheryl Opalach Michaels and her husband, Brett; nephew, Walter Opalach, III and his wife, Linda; and 17 grand nieces and nephews and 8 great-grand nieces and nephews.  

A memorial service will be held at 1:30pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808, where family and friends may visit beginning at 12:30pm. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, 220 Continental Dr Ste 407, Newark, DE 19713-4315.

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