Irene Somers

Irene T. Somers, 86, passed away surrounded by her loving family Wednesday evening (January 16) at the Champaign County Nursing Home in Urbana. 

The funeral Mass will begin at 11am on Monday, Jan. 21  at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 401 West Clark, Champaign with a rosary service taking place at 10:15 am. Friends are invited to lunch in the Parish Center following Mass to greet the family.  Burial will be at a later date. 

Irene was born in rural Mt. Carmel, Illinois November 22,1932.  She earned a Master's degree from Southern Illinois University in 1961 and moved to Champaign to teach at the new Carrie Busey School on Kirby Avenue.  She loved her years teaching fourth graders.  She married and raised five children.  She practiced her Catholic faith at Holy Cross. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Katherine and Martin Tennes, her siblings Simon, Norman, Marie, Florence, Loretta, Clara Rose, and LeRoy, and her son, Vincent.  Surviving are children Jane (Joe) Rice of Gaithersburg, MD, Mary Shultz, Catherine Somers, and Michael (Cindy) Somers all of Champaign.  Also surviving are her beloved grandchildren:  Brother Isidore (Matthew) Rice, OP. of Washington, DC, Elizabeth Rice of Gaithersburg, MD, and Justin and Elaine Somers of Champaign.

During her years of residence in the nursing home, she enjoyed the poinsettia plant provided to residents by the St. Vincent de Paul Society annually during the Christmas season.  Donations to continue that program and other works of charity will be accepted at the parish office, 405 West Clark, Champaign.    

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Irene Somers, please visit our floral store.