Irene F. McGrath
August 23, 1920 ~ November 10, 2017
Resided in:
Rochester, NY
Irondequoit: Passed away Friday, November 10, 2017 at age 97.
Irene McGrath was predeceased by her parents Raymond J. Johnson Sr. and Irene A. Johnson, husband William A. McGrath Sr., daughter Karen (McGrath) Cline, brothers & sisters, Robert (Madeline) Johnson, Ethel (Arthur) Gilbert, Mildred (Johnson) McGrew, Walter (Marjorie) Johnson, Shirley (Lewis) Shading, Raymond F. Johnson Jr., nephew, Dick Gatley.
She is survived by sister Rosemary, and brother-in law Carlyle Johnson, daughter Patricia (McGrath) Butler, sons William A. McGrath, Jr (Anne), Thomas A. (Sharon) McGrath, daughter Shirley “Babe” McGrath, grandsons, Timothy Myers, William A. (Tammy) McGrath, III, Kevin S. (Jennifer) McGrath, Matthew McGrath, Nicholas McGrath, Jason (Krystle) Yockel, Travis Yockel. Granddaughters Terry Knizner and Jennifer Cline.
Also survived by nieces and nephews, Susan (Mike) Characky, Beverly (Johnson) Romero, Larry Johnson, David Johnson and Gary Johnson, Gail (Ron) Garvey, Kim (Robert) Smith, Jacob Smith.. Many great-grandsons, Brandon (Jennifer) Knizner, Connor McGrath, Christopher Sportsman, Michael Sportsman, Kevin Respalie, Aiden McGrath, Liam McGrath, Tyler Rogers. Great-Granddaughters, Katlyn Rogers, Paige McGrath and Justina Cline-Galazara. Great Nephews, Ryan Characky, Shawn Charakey, Thayne Characky, Steven Garvey, Scott Garvey, Christopher Garvey, Bronson Smith, Great Niece’s, Bridget Smith, Becky Sundt, Great-Great Grandson Dominick Galarza and God Daughter Judy (Hafner) Pfeifer.
Irene graduated from Madison High School in 1939. She was an employee of Rochester Optical and Eastman Kodak during WWII, then Rochester Products and Ontario Plastics after WWII. She was a well-known Business Manager for area drum and bugle corps such as, Barnard Blue Devils, the Emerald Cadets and Emerald Statesmen from 1954 to 1969. She was President of the International Color Guard Circuit from 1967 to 75 and a staff member of Phoenix Sr. Drum Corps from 1974 to 77. She was an original lifetime member of the Empire Statesmen Drum Corps from 1983 to 2013. Irene was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2000.
Friends may call Monday (Nov 13th) 4-8 PM and Tuesday (Nov 14th) 4-8 PM at Vay-Schleich & Meeson Funeral Home, 1075 Long Pond Road. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday (Nov 15th) 11:00 AM at St. Kateri Parish at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 4536 St. Paul Blvd, Rochester, NY 14617. Interment to follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame Scholarship Fund in her memory. For more information, or to sign Irene’s online guestbook, please visit Meesonfamily.com.
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So sorry for the loss of a great lady. May she rest in eternal peace beside our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and join her family and friends whom have gone before her. I send my deepest condolences to her family and pray they find peace and comfort during this difficult time
Bill and Ann , we. are sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace. May God Bless her. You are all in our prayers. Our deepest Sympathy!!
Sincerely , Mr. And Mrs. Remillard
I will miss your smiling face Aunt Irene.I always looked forward to seeing you at any outing we went to. I hope you and Uncle Bill will be forever happy in your new life together. Have a safe journey to be with Uncle Bill and please know that i love you and will miss you.
My sincere condolences to Bill, Shirley & family. Irene was a first class lady that we all loved & respected.. May she RIP & God bless her & the whole McGrath family
Sincerely, Bob O’Connor
Rest in peace Irene . You are a blessing to all.
Billy, Sorry for the loss of your mom. My apologies for not being able to be there in person. Jeanne and myself send prayers your way.
It is with sadness that I receive this news from Bill, via his message through the USARD. I did not know Mrs. McGrath personally; however, reading about her accomplishments and knowing Bill, I envision a beautiful, dedicated and strong lady. Bill, Anne and Family, please accept my sincere expression of condolence on the occasion of your mother’s ‘homegoing’. I understand such loss.
We are so blessed to have had you in our lives. You will be forever in our hearts.
Sharon and I wish to extend our sincerest condolences to Pat, Bill, Tom, Shirley and the entire McGrath family. Take comfort in knowing that Irene touched thousands of lives in a very positive way.
Bill and Family,
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mother. We know it is very difficult as we have been there ourselves. Irene was truly an amazing woman with a many accomplishments both in her family life as well as the drum corps community. So many people , family, friends are very proud of her. She will truly be missed by so many. Our deepest sympathy to you Bill and all of your family during this difficult time.
Love,
Jimmy and MaryAnn Prentice
Bill and Family,
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mother. We know it is very difficult as we have been there ourselves. Irene was truly an amazing woman with many accomplishments both in her family life as well as the drum corps community. So many people, family, friends are very proud of her. She will truly be missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know her.. Our deepest sympathy to you Bill and all of your family during this difficult time.
Love,
Jimmy and MaryAnn Prentice
Tom, please accept our condolences’s on the loss of your Mom, and pass them along to Bill and the rest of your family. I would have liked to express my sympathy in person, but unfortunately could not. Your mother lived a full and productive life and you should be very appreciative of her many accomplishments.
‘living by chance, loving by choice, brother by profession.’