Irene E. Schramer

Irene Elizabeth (Feltes) Schramer, 95, of Aurora, Illinois, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and sister died peacefully surrounded by family on September 8th, 2016. Irene was born April 12, 1921 to Peter and Katherine Feltes at home in Hartland, Illinois. Irene graduated from St. Mary's School in West Chicago in 1935 and West Chicago Community High School in 1939. She was a member of the Junior Catholic Daughters of America in high school and the Catholic Daughters of Aurora, Court #32 of Chicago, Illinois. She married Ernest P. Schramer on August 1, 1942 at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Cloverdale, Illinois. Together, they farmed in West Chicago and Elgin, Illinois. In February of 1960, the family moved to a farm north of Berlin, Wisconsin where they raised five children. She was a member of the Waushara County Homemakers Club of Borth, WI and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Poysippi, WI. She was a stay at home mother until their youngest child, Jean, started school in 1962. Irene then worked at William's Laundry in Berlin until her husband's death in 1967. She moved into town where she worked nine years in the Food Service Program in the Berlin School System. She moved to Aurora, Illinois to care for her mother in 1976. She worked nine years in the Food Service Program at Fermi National Accelerator Lab in Batavia before retiring in 1989. She enjoyed many years of traveling, playing cards, crafts, and volunteering at Hesed House. Irene has been a member of the St Francis Fraternity since 1968. She survived a stroke when she was 82 years old but after three months of rehab, she returned to independent living at Constitution House. Irene moved to Asbury Gardens (Assisted Living) at age 93. For the last six months of her life, she was cared for by her youngest daughter, Jean and son-in-law John, in Aurora, Colorado. Survivors left behind to cherish her memory include children: Victor (Heidi), Berlin, WI; Gerry (Mary Ellen), Lee, FL; Mary (Edward) Jezwinski, Phoenix, AZ; Sally (Clifford) Oiler, Columbus, OH; and Jean (John) Young, Aurora, CO; 12 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren; sister, Helen Kuhn, Lombard, IL; brother in law, James (Rose) Schramer, Wheaton, IL; and sisters-in-law, Betty Konen, and Shirley Schramer of Berlin WI and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest in 1967; her parents, Peter and Katherine Feltes; brothers, Fremont, Victor, Walter, Albert, and Sister, Loretta; Parents-in-law, Nicholas and Katherine Schramer; brothers-in-law, Raymond Hahn, Harold Asselborn, Richard Schramer, Everett Kuhn, and James Konen; Sisters-in-law, Ruth Feltes, Loretta Hahn, and Ramona Feltes. Services in Colorado will include a Celebration of Life on Thursday, September 15, from 6:30-8:30PM at Irene's home, 4099 S. Dunkirk Way, Aurora, CO 80013. Services in Illinois will include a Visitation on Friday, September 23, from 9-11 am at St. Rita of Cascia Church, 750 Old Indian Trail, Aurora, Illinois. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11AM will be celebrated by great nephew, Father Victor Feltes, and cousin, Deacon Tom Petit. A luncheon will follow after Mass at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Rd, Aurora, IL. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Chicago. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Rita of Cascia Church or to Hesed House, 659 South River St. Aurora, IL 60506. Please share memories and condolences with the family below.