Irene F. Growden

Irene F. Growden, 95, of South Haven died Tuesday, June 6 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph.

She was born March 27, 1911 in Ludington, Michigan to Robert and Viola (Poirer) Greenwald. Irene received her Bachelors and Master Degrees from Western Michigan University. She married Edger Grownden on June 27, 1941at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Muskegon. Irene worked as a teacher in Kalamazoo, Muskegon and then taught 1st & 2nd grade at Lincoln School in South Haven retiring in 1974. She was a member of St. Basil’s Catholic Church and the Women’s Service Guild. Irene was also a member of the Scott Club. She volunteered as a Mobile Meals Driver and for the South Haven Community Hospital Auxillary.

She is preceded in death along with her parents by her husband Edger Growden who died in 1967. . Two sisters – Edna Delaney and Helen Klensch. Two brother – Dick Greenwald and Robert Greenwald.

She is survived by four sons – William Growden of Burbank, California, James (Fran) Growden of San Francisco, California, Gordon (M’Lou) Growden of Portland, Oregon, and Thomas (Sungwarn) Growden of Euless, Texas. One daughter – Marie (Bernie) Suzor of Benton Harbor, Michigan. Eight grandchildren- Matthew, Marie, Chanvit (Lindee), Robert, Averyl and John Growden. Jim Sazor and Amy Archer. Three great grandchildren- Mariah and Alyssa Archer and Lyndsey Collins.

Visitation will be Sunday, June 11 from 6 - 8 at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home with a Rosary at 7:30 P.M. The Memorial Mass will be Monday at 10:30 A.M. at St. Basil’s Catholic Church with Rev. Father John Young officiating. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery, South Haven. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Basil’s Educational Endowment Fund. Friends wishing to sign the register online, leave a message for the family or share a short story about Irene can do so at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.