Harrington, Irene

Irene Harrington, 95, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday evening, Feb. 28, 2012, at Mercy Hallmar in Cedar Rapids. Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oelwein, with the Rev. Harry Koelker officiating. Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein, with a rosary service at 6:30 p.m. and parish Scripture service at 7 p.m. Interment: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Hazleton.

Irene Harrington was born May 29, 1916, in rural Hazleton, Iowa, the daughter of John and Mary (Minahan) Harrington. She graduated from Hazleton High School and then from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids with a teaching degree. She taught in the Buchanan County Country Schools and then moved to Seattle, Wash., where she helped in the war effort working at Boeing Airlines.

Irene then taught at the Maynard and Independence schools. Irene moved to Cedar Rapids, where she taught and was a principal in the public school system. She received her master's degree at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. Irene worked in the education field for 50 years.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids and the Iowa Teachers Association.

Irene is survived by two nephews, Tom (Lorraine) Corcoran of Fairbank and Leonard (Mavis) Harrington of Omaha, Neb.; niece, Mary Jane (Keith) Carr of Stevensville, Mich.;

niece-in-law, Ollie Harrington of Los Angeles, Calif.; and many great-nieces, great-nephews; great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Frank (Laura) Harrington and Raymond (Elvera) Harrington; three sisters, Margaret and Ruth Harrington in childhood and Helen (Larry) Corcoran; niece, Georgine (Leo) Ponsar; two nephews, Dick (Eileen) Corcoran and Jerome Harrington; great-nephew, Timothy Ponsar; and a special friend, Bernadette Walsh.

A memorial fund has been established.

Online obituary: www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Published March 1, 2012 in The Gazette