Irene Nielsen Serpa Platt

Irene N. Serpa Platt, age 85, of Tempe, Arizona, passed away on Friday, December 9, 2022.

Irene N. Serpa Platt was born to Frederick and June Nielsen (Zebora) on June 4, 1937 in Hoboken, New Jersey. She grew up in Lyndhurst NJ, upstate New York, Wisconsin and Kalamazoo, MI, where she graduated from Portage High School. Irene attended Michigan State University, where she met her first husband, Thomas R. Serpa, of Oak Park, Illinois, married on August 24, 1957. They raised their four children in Mt. Lebanon, PA, LaVale, MD, and Upper St. Clair, PA, before retiring to Sun Lakes AZ in 1997. They attended Sunset Hills UP Church in Mt. Lebanon, First Presbyterian of Cumberland, Westminster Presbyterian in Upper St. Clair, and Mission Del Sol Presbyterian in Tempe. After Tom's passing in 2002, Irene remained active at Mission del Sol Church where she met her second husband, A. Max Platt. Irene and Max shared 11 happy years of marriage until Max passed in 2017, the last years living in Friendship Village Tempe.

Irene believed in faith, family and love. She was a dedicated and caring wife, mother, and grandmother who made those around her feel loved and special. She made new friends throughout her life and was good at maintaining those friendships. Irene loved to take walks, garden, play bridge, sing, and travel. Besides the summer vacations, she later got the opportunity to take cruises and travel in the States and in Europe.

Irene is survived by her loving children John R. Serpa (Diana), Nancy J. Serpa Kamphuis (Lex), James N. Serpa (Kerrie) and William (Al) Serpa (Lynn); two step-daughters, Carolyn McBurney and Vicki Kyle (and their families); ten amazing grandchildren and two beautiful great-grandchildren. Irene will be greatly missed by her brother Niel Nielsen (Anne) and her brother-in-law Ray Serpa (Sherry), as well as her five special nephews, Mark, David, Timothy, Michael, and Andrew.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 1:00 PM, at Mission Del Sol Presbyterian Church, 1565 E. Warner Rd, Tempe AZ 85284. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Irene’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, Desert Southwest Chapter, at https://www.alz.org/dsw.