Irene C. Schaefer

Loving wife of Michael and beloved mother of William, both of whom predeceased her. She is survived by her son Kevin (Tara) and granddaughter Katie. Irene also leaves her sister Joan (Alexander-deceased) Pollock, two brothers, Robert (Leslie) and Kenneth (Cynthia), as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Theresa and Theodore Pajer, and her brother Richard. Irene graduated from St. Casimir’s School, Yonkers High, and Katharine Gibbs. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lehman College CUNY, later earning M.A. degrees in English Literature and Education. She was awarded the Lehman Grant for meritorious research and earned several post-graduate teaching fellowships. She was employed by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics and Remington Rand before marrying and raising her children. She was a tireless volunteer for numerous organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the March of Dimes. With a passion for the ERA, she worked tirelessly for that goal. After her husband died, Irene returned to work at the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) first in NY, then in Washington DC, eventually serving as Editor-in-Chief of The Postal Record, the magazine of the NALC. Returning to New York in the late 1980s, she worked in the family business in Mount Vernon, NY where she continued to serve the local community via the Chamber of Commerce, the United Way Campaign, and the Literacy Volunteers. Retiring to Florida in 2001, she reconnected with old friends and made new ones.

Memorial visiting hours will be at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home on Saturday January 20th from 2-4pm. Final Disposition will be private.