IRENE H. KURZ 1932-2025    "GAMMY"

Had a great sense of humor - would stick her tongue out for pictures and make snarky, witty comments to remind you she’s still young and hip

-Always good about sending out celebration cards… and never let you forget if you didn’t send her one back

-Always complained about using new technology, but never let it stop her from learning how to use them (laptop, cell phone, ipad). She was texting up until her last day. 

-She was meticulous with her schedule - Saturday and Wednesday were hair washing days. Tuesdays were for Grocery Shopping, which had to be the Commissary because the other stores were expensive. Wednesdays and Sundays were for standing calls with her children and grandchildren to stay in the loop. Fridays were for changing bed sheets and the Library, where she’d pick up several books at a time - she loved to read, as she must have read hundreds of books in her life

-Always enjoyed a glass or two of Pinot Grigio, but it HAD to have a large glass of ice on the side to water it down. Even in her later years when she was told to only drink on special occasions, she made it known that any time she was out of the house was a reason to celebrate. She knew the word for “ice” in many languages as it was the only word she used whilst traveling internationally. 

-She may not have wanted her at first, but her dog Zoey ended up being her best friend. She never missed a walk on the yard, morning or night, in sunshine and in snow. Even though we told her Zoey could roam the yard on her own, she would still leash her up and walk her up and down the yard.

-She was the definition of a worrywart -  often struggling to sleep when one of us is traveling, only to be relieved when she finally saw an “Arrived” text. Called both Brad and Christa one time from college when her 50 something year old daughter didn’t confirm her landing immediately. 

-She loved to travel - went to several countries with her husband, always mentioning how she needed to fly in first class and stay at the Ritz Carlton. She enjoyed traveling to Hilton Head Island in her later years with the family. 

-She loved reminding everyone she was a woman with fine taste, whether it was wearing her tiny gold Rolex, enjoying her beloved Creme Brulee after dinner or zipping around town in her BMW

-Loved attending parties of all kinds - weddings, birthdays, religious events.  When she received an invite, she’d always remark “I hope I make it”, and she always did. She loved to dance and complain about subpar food. 

-She loved dining out, even though she was notorious for ordering the same things (#1 has to be a chicken sandwich, and don’t forget the extra crispy fries). She never finished her food, but happily enjoyed the leftovers the next night. 

-She was very opinionated, never afraid to speak her mind, even if it was something you liked, because to her it was just stupid. 

-She was grateful for the help she received in her later years - changing clock batteries and ligntbulbs, learning how to navigate the new library webpage and taking her to appointments she didn’t feel comfortable driving to. It took her until about 90 years old to ask for help to put her air conditioning cover on in the fall, which she used to stand on the couch and do herself. 

-She was stubborn. Refused to ask for help. When she struggled to do the air conditioning cover her reason was not due to age or wellbeing it was “it’s because I shrunk” 

-Despite being told countless times she should move to a smaller home or to a care center, she continued to hold up all the responsibilities of her home.