Irene J. McCartney

Irene Janet (Kotynski) McCartney, of Geneseo, IL, passed away peacefully on December 9^th, 2017, with family members by her side. Services will be held in the morning on Thursday, December 21, at St. Malachy Catholic Church, in Geneseo. The visitation will be from 9:30 (Rosary at 9:30 a.m.) to 10:30 a.m. The Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m.  There will be a luncheon in the church hall following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Irene’s name to the Geneseo Food Pantry, 217 North Russell Street, Geneseo, IL 61254. Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

Irene was born to Anastazy S. and Janet (Jaskulska) Kotynski, in1926, at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital, Chicago, IL.  She was baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hammond, IN.  Her godmother was Cecilia (Chessia) Glazer. Irene attended St. Joseph Grade School and graduated from Hammond High School. Irene worked at a Naval Office in South Chicago and at Hammond City Hall as secretary to the City Engineer.

Irene married the love of her life, Michael John McCartney, Jr. in 1950.   Witnesses at her marriage were her brother, Edward S. Kotynski and Michael’s sister, Gertrude A. McCartney.  Their first three children were born in Hammond, IN - Michael III, Mary, and Regina.

Michael took a job with Detroit Testing Lab and Irene had the next three children while living in Detroit – Chris, Maureen, and John.  Their youngest child, Marie, was born in Toledo when Michael took a position with Owens-Illinois.

Michael and Irene raised their family in South Toledo, attending Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. They both were very active in the church and community.  They spent time making and maintaining numerous friendships that lasted a lifetime.  Irene was particularly fond of her birthday club and her Weight Watchers group. They met after meetings for lunch and joked about how they “watched” as their “weight” went up!  After Michael retired from O-I, Irene and Michael moved to Chickasha, OK. They lived there until Michael passed away in 2008 after 58 years of marriage.  In 2009, Irene moved to Geneseo.  In 2017, she moved into Good Samaritan Nursing Village in Geneseo.

After Irene and Michael retired, they had calling cards printed with the phrase, “We have lived fully; We have loved well.”  Michael and Irene certainly did!

She is preceded in death by her husband, Michael, Jr.; her parents, Anastazy S. and Janet (Jaskulska) Kotynski; and brothers Edward, Henry, and George.

She is survived by seven children, Michael III (Joie Zatko), Schererville, IN, Mary, Owatonna, MN, Regina (Al) Sutherland, Chickasha, OK, Chris, McCook, NE, Maureen (Robert) Hall, Pfafftown, NC, John (Sally Lonsdale) of St. Petersburg, FL and Marie (Kevin) Lillis, Geneseo.  She is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

The burial will take place on January 6, 2018, in Chickasha, OK, at the Fairlawn Cemetery (Grady County, OK), next to her husband of 58 years, Michael, Jr.

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