Irene Williams
1927-2011
Irene S. Williams died at home in Sullivan, Maine on March 18, at age 84. She was born February 26, 1927 in Swoyersville, PA to Casimir and Margaret Migacz Sieminski. She attended the Cornell University/ New York Hospital School of Nursing. After graduation in 1948, she worked as an operating room nurse in New York City where she met her husband to be. Irene Sieminski and Hugh R. Williams, MD were married on June 4, 1949 at Montclair Friends Meeting in Montclair, NJ where she began her long affiliation with the Society of Friends.
Irene happily put nursing aside to enjoy raising her family of five children. This challenge gave her much pleasure. During this time, while her husband was developing his career, the family relocated frequently. Irene resumed her nursing career in 1966 near Denver, CO. She taught nursing near Cooperstown, NY beginning in 1971 and in 1974 and '75 at Geisinger Health Systems in Danville, PA. She and her husband moved to Bellevue, MD in 1976. In 1978 she began her seventeen year affiliation at Easton's Memorial Hospital School of Nursing as an instructor. During this period she earned a master's degree in education from Salisbury State University and was certified in orthopedic and gerontological nursing. Nursing was only part of Irene's varied and interesting life. Her family always came first and they shared many vacations—some crazier than others! She enjoyed her experiences traveling abroad with her husband.
Irene had the opportunity to meet relatives in Poland on one of their adventures. After her husband's death in 1987, she continued traveling widely with "Elderhostel" and others.
Irene was very proud of her 35 year Quaker membership at Third Haven Friends Meeting. Playing bridge was a great passion as well as reading and enjoying music. She won a poetry competition held by a local publication titled "Mother". Irene was a member of the Talbot County Women's Club. In 2002, Irene enjoyed seven pleasurable years at Londonderry Retirement Community where she participated in many social activities. Maine became her home with her son, Hugh and his wife, Avis in late 2009. During her last months, one of her favorite activities was spelling. Robin, a loving caregiver, would open the dictionary and quiz her. She rarely misspelled a word.
Hugh, her husband, predeceased her in 1987. Paul Williams, her youngest son died in 2010. Irene Williams is survived by her son, Hugh and his wife, Avis of Sullivan, Maine; son, David and his wife, Barbara of Easton, MD; daughter, Margaret Karl and her husband, David of Cooperstown, NY; son, Mark and his wife, Connie of Fanwood, NJ; and widow of Paul Williams, Livia Tenzer, of New York City. She has seven grandchildren: Sam and Joey Williams, Ben and Mary Karl, Corey Williams, Nina Williams and Julia Williams.
A memorial service is planned at Third Haven Friends Meeting, Easton, Saturday, April 16th at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Irene's memory to Third Haven Friends Meeting, PO Box 2379, Easton, MD 21601.