IRENE MARX
Irene Catherine Marx (nee Kolinski) age 101, died on Saturday, April 19, in Carroll County, Ohio. Irene was born in 1923 in Toledo, Ohio to Lawrence and Hedwig Kolinski. During her long life, Irene lived through 4 wars, the great depression, the Cold War, and the rise of the computer age and many other technological advancements. During WWII she met a very handsome GI named Arthur Marx, who swiped her umbrella on a rainy night and refused to return it until she surrendered her phone number. The ploy worked and they were happily married for 57 years. During their life’s journey they raised a family of five children while moving close to 20 times because of Art’s job with GE. They spent most of their married life in the Cleveland area, broken up by a stint in Van Wert, Ohio. While there, Irene finished her college degree and, after the family settled back in Cleveland she pursued a career teaching 6th grade at the Gesu Parish school in University Hts.
During their long marriage, Art and Irene relied heavily on their deep Catholic faith which they tried to impress upon their children. Irene was rarely idol. Besides working full-time, she was always busy with her children and grandchildren. Family came first and she loved being a mom, a grandmother, and great-grandmother. In her retirement she enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, gardening, sewing, knitting, quilting and baking There was nothing better than one of Irene’s holiday meals. Delish!!!! As they approached retirement they made the decision to move one last time to Steubenville, Ohio to be closer to their daughters Martha and Jane and some of their many grandchildren. They loved their time in Steubenville. As Irene’s health began to deteriorate Irene lived with Martha, and very near Jane. The family thanks them and her caregivers Ronda, Mary Lynn, Amy and Betty. A special thank you also to Golden Age Retreat and Ohio Hospice who led her and us along the last journey.
Besides her husband Arthur, she is preceded in death by her brother Bill Kolinski, sister, Jane Petee and daughter-in-law Mary Diessler Marx. Irene is survived by her sister Joan Rohen and her children Peter Marx (Patricia), Steven Marx (Stacey), Jane Evans (Robert), Martha Stan (William), Mary Donnelly (Kevin), and grandchildren Patrick Marx, Sarah Calabrese (Anthony), Cate Marx- Bodie, Brian Marx, Laura Marx-West (Richard), Julie Marx-Dunning (Nick), Irene Fitzgerald, Joshua Evans (Elaine), Emily Valot (Joshua), Michael Evans (Stefanie), Leslie Kungl (Fred), and 18 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, April 25, 2025 at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amsterdam with Fr. Athanasius Musajjakaawa officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Steubenville. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in Dodds Funeral Home of Amsterdam.
Donations in her honor may be made to her favorite religious order who doted on her at first Saturday devotions and pot luck. https://opusangelorum .org/