Submitted by: Dan Rich

Irene F. Kirch

July 18, 1908 - Dec. 27, 2008

South Bend Tribune 12/30/2008
SOUTH BEND - Irene F. Kirch passed away at the age of 100 at 7:15 a.m. Saturday, December 27, 2008, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend. Irene was born on July 18, 1908, to Charles and Agnes (Koscianski) Coleman in South Bend, where she spent her early years, the oldest of four sisters. Family was always very important to Irene; caring for her elderly parents, enjoying time with her husband and her sisters, loving her son, and helping to raise her grandchildren. Preceding her in death were both of her parents; her husband, Marvin A. Kirch (1989); her only child, Charles E. Cox (1997); three sisters, Marie (Al) Wagenka, Margaret Troutmiller and Dorothy (Ed) Schultz; a nephew, Terry Gill; and a grandson, Gary Crimaldi. She is survived by six grandchildren, Donna (Bill) Stoll, Diana (Luke) Shubert, Charles (Rebecca) Cox Jr., Christine (John) Michael, Karen Grove and Bobby Cox; and by a niece, Sandra Fergusson. Irene is also survived by many great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Irene's first job was as a counter girl in the Metropolitan Five & Fifty Cent Store in South Bend. She later worked for Studebaker for 38 years. She and her husband, Marvin, maintained a lovely home for 50 years on Diamond Lake in Cassopolis, Michigan, where many beautiful memories were made at gatherings of family and friends. In recent years she lived in Lydick with her granddaughter, Christine, and at The Point at Hamilton Communities in New Carlisle. The family would like to extend its everlasting thanks to the wonderful staff and management of The Point at Hamilton Communities for making the past several years safe, comfortable and enjoyable for Irene. The kindness of her fellow residents at the Point will long be remembered.