Loving mother, grandmother, CUSD teacher’s aide

Irene Magdziarz died July 1 of complications from a stroke. She was 91.

Born in Chicago in 1932 to parents George and Florence, Irene married Ray Magdziarz in 1961 and they started a family in the Chicago suburbs. In 1978, Ray’s career change brought them to Claremont, where she lived until her passing.

Always cheerful, she was a loving mother, grandmother, wife, sister, friend, puzzle solver, eclipse chaser, and member of the Claremont Manor community and Our Lady of the Assumption parish.

Eclipse adventures brought her to Canada, Australia, China, Turkey, Wyoming, and Texas. She visited all 50 states, Mexico, and traversed the Panama Canal. She visited many national parks during her travels, with Denali and Grand Canyon being two of her favorites. She was an employee and volunteer with Claremont Unified School District at Chaparral and Condit elementary schools for 30 years.

Irene is survived by her children: Anne, William, Susan, and Robert; granddaughter Audrey; and sister Alice. She was predeceased by her husband in 2020.

Family and friends are invited to memorial services. Visitation will take place at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 24 at Todd Memorial Chapel, 570 N. Garey Ave., Pomona, CA 91767, followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption, 435 N. Berkeley Ave., Claremont, CA 91711. A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at Claremont Manor, 650 Harrison Ave., Claremont, CA 91711.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Parks Conservation Association at support.npca.org.