Irene A. Fesler

Born October 24, 1928 in Brooklyn NY to Amelia (Gorylewski) Apanel & Paul Apanel, Irene worked in her family’s delicatessen business after school & on weekends throughout her childhood. Her favorite teen activity as a majorette in a drum & bugle corps, led to her future husband, Ernest A. Fesler a bugle player who also shared a passion for marching & music.

Married on June 12, 1949 their life journey took them from Ridgewood, NY eventually to Mineola, Long Island where they lived until their relocation in 2015 to Naples, Florida to be closer to family. A bookkeeper throughout her life, Irene loved reading, entertaining & spending time with family & friends. Her passion for the pageantry & music of drum & bugle corps led to the founding & rise of the St. Matthias Blue Max Drum & Bugle Corps. Irene & Ernest with many other family members & friends founded the Blue in Ridgewood, NY in 1972, & it was a common bond for the rest of her life. This community based group involved volunteerism & youth activities & touched hundreds of lives throughout the years as new members & their family’s soon become life long friends.

Even after her relocation to Naples Florida these same friends visited with her and her husband Ernest regularly up until a week before her passing.

Irene loved holidays & family get togethers with the highlight being her grandchildren & 4 great-grandchildren, watching dance recitals or listening to piano concerts. Irene was grateful being surrounded by those who loved her & made everyone around her know this.

Irene is survived by her husband Ernest, son Ernie, daughter Rene (Ronald Mount deceased), granddaughters Lauren (Michael Solorzano), Alicia, 4 great-grandchildren & numerous nieces, nephews & friends.

A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 625 111th Ave N, Naples, FL 34108.

In lieu of flowers the family asks to consider a donation in Irene’s name to The Honeysuckle Foundation for Children with Cancer, P.O. Box 1491, Melville, NY 11747

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Fesler family.