Irene H. Ochrymowych, 90, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2020. Born in Lviv, Ukraine in 1929 to Helen Hodowanska and Paul Syrotiuk, Irene immigrated to the United States with her parents and siblings in 1946 and settled in Hudson NY. She was a graduate of Hudson High School, received a B.S. degree from Centre College in Kentucky, and continued post-graduate studies in chemistry at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie NY. Irene married Julian Ochrymowych in 1952, and they lovingly raised three children. Before settling in New Providence NJ in 1967, the growing family lived in New Orleans LA, DeQueen AR, Dallas TX, and Humboldt TN.
Irene worked as a chemical engineer at Bellcore for 20 years before retiring in 1992. A parishioner of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany NJ, she was also a member of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, Branch 86 (Newark), and a generous supporter of both The Ukrainian Museum in NYC and the Children of Chernobyl charity. Irene and her husband were regarded as excellent bridge players; in later years, she continued to enjoy the game with friends at the New Providence Senior Center. For the past three years, Irene resided at Sunrise Senior Living in Basking Ridge NJ, where the visiting cat Onyx would always bring a radiant smile to her face.
Irene was pre-deceased by her husband Julian, and by her sister and brother-in-law, Daria and Ihor Senyk. She is survived by son Andrew Julian Ochrymowych, daughter Dr. Christina Marie Ochrymowych and her husband Dr. James O'Krepki, and son Julian Paul Ochrymowych. Irene is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Stephanie Syrotiuk; nephews George Syrotiuk and Daniel Syrotiuk; nieces Irene Coira, Marta Grace, and Natalie Miller; and by dear friends including Col. John Kark, Areta Arlen, and Romana Fedasiuk.
The Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Stirling NJ on Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. However, in light of the current public health crisis, both the Mass and interment will be private.
Interment is in St. Andrew Cemetery in South Bound Brook NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Irene’s memory may be sent to The Ukrainian Museum (www.ukrainianmuseum.org), to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), or to
Tabby’s Place (www.tabbysplace.org).
Arrangements are under the direction of the Valley Memorial Funeral Home 1012 Valley Rd., Gillette, NJ. For more information and online condolences visit valleymemorialfuneralhome.net