Duluth - Irene Kopary died Wednesday, February 17, 1999 in St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth.
Irene Eva Schadelbauer was born on January 11, 1910 in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, the daughter of Ferdinand and Filomena Schadelbauer. She was educated in Hungary and became a teacher at the high school level, specializing in the German language.
In 1937 she married Lazlo Kopary. The couple's son John was born in Budapest. The family escaped from Hungary at the end of World War II. They eventually settled in what is now West Germany while they waited to emigrate to the United States. The family came to America in 1952 and established a home in Duluth in 1954. Lazlo Kopari died in 1989.
Irene worked at St. Mary's Hospital for 23 years and retired in 1975. In retirement she traveled extensively throughout Europe visiting family and friends.
She was an avid bridge player, volunteered at the Depot Museum and was active in the Senior Citizen Center, serving as treasurer. Irene enjoyed gardening and caring for flowers and plants. She was an excellent conversationalist and was fluent in Hungarian, German and English. She helped teach English to new immigrants from all over the world and had friends in India, China, the United States and Europe.
Irene is survived by her son, John (Joyce) Kopari, and three grandchildren, all of Thief River Falls.
A00003B1999MR03