Irene Emmerich

Irene Margaret Emmerich, 96, Spring Hill, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at Spring Hill Care and Rehabilitation, Spring Hill, Kansas. Irene was born on November 5, 1923 in Bloomfield, New Jersey to Theodore and Angeline (Saldecki) Zbikowski. She grew up in Bloomfield and graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1941. Irene, her sister Dorothy and some of their best friends formed the Jollyaires Club during high school. The Jollyaires met monthly to go to Broadway shows or share coffee and cake at the homes of members. Irene married William Emmerich, Sr., in Bloomfield on July 4, 1947. She worked as a bookkeeper for Eastwood Neally Company in Belleville, New Jersey until her first child was born. They lived in Bloomfield until Bill’s retirement, when they moved to Toms River, New Jersey. In Toms River, they enjoyed spending time with family. They became members of the Beachwood Old Guard Glee Club. Irene was an avid reader who enjoyed camping. She was a lifelong New York Yankees baseball fan. Irene moved to Spring Hill, Kansas to be near family 22 years ago and was a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Gardner, Kansas. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bill in 1994 and sister Dorothy and brother-in-law Francis Valliere. She is survived by her children: William (Maria) Emmerich, Budd Lake, New Jersey, Richard (Ann) Emmerich, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, James (Kathleen) Emmerich, Spring Hill, Kansas and Patricia Emmerich, Spring Hill, Kansas; 11 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be 5:00 to 9:00 pm Friday, January 3, 2020 at Levandoski-Grillo Funeral Home, 44 Bay Ave, Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003. A Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 10:45 a.m. Interment will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park and Cemetery, Union, New Jersey.