Irene Schabes

Irene Schabes, passed peacefully at the age of 86; beloved wife of the late Eugene; loving mother of Karin (Ed) Gipple, Kurt (Pam) Schabes and Dina (Doug) von Holst; adoring grandmother of James (Kim), Christopher and Jenna Gipple; Brandon Schabes, Kailene (TJ) DeVries, Ryan (Cora) von Holst, Natalie (Luke) Jackson and Haley (Grant) Irvine; devoted great-grandmother of Olivia and Julian von Holst, Colt Jackson and Neil DeVries; dear sister of JoAnne (Jim) Vinci, whose beautiful artwork brought Irene the greatest joy; best friend and sister-in-law of Clare Schabes; aunt of many nieces and nephews. Irene, a Native of Klaipeda, Lithuania emigrated to the United States and settled in Chicago as a young woman. Irene lived her life with an incredible sense of adventure and a bright enthusiasm for life. Her vivid imagination could be counted on to keep daily life interesting when spending time with her grandchildren. Her quick wit and sense of humor along with her easy smile made her a joy to be around. Irene’s love of dancing is surely still with her as she now dances with the Angels. In lieu of flowers, please keep Irene in your thoughts and prayers. A memorial and celebration of Irene’s life will be planned at a future date when the family can dance and celebrate her memory together. Arrangements handled by Gibbons Funeral Home, Elmhurst. 630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com