Irene DiGenno, 97, also known as Mrs. D, was called Home to be with the Lord on June 22, 2022. She is predeceased by her husband Ivanhoe J. DiGenno, her parents Gaetano and Antoinette Domizio, and nine of her twelve siblings. Irene, along with her husband, raised three children. She was an example of true, unconditional, and selfless love. All who met her were touched by her sweetness, kindness, and generosity of time and talent. Above all, she loved her family and treated friends like family. She was affectionately known as “Meals on Wheels”, for driving delicious home-cooked meals to her daughter and son-in-law in Pine Beach, NJ and her son and his family in Lanoka Harbor, NJ. While her seven sisters went to business school, Irene wanted to pursue a career as a writer and received an academic high school diploma. For several years, she worked at McFadden Publications in New York City until she had her first child. After her third child began school, she went back into the workforce where she became secretary to the librarian at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx. She worked there for 27 years. Upon retiring from that position, Irene and her husband moved to Crestwood Village in Whiting, NJ. Shortly after, she and her husband were hired at Six Flags Great Adventure, where they both received Super Star Awards for their strong work ethic. After her husband passed away, Irene became a volunteer classroom aide in her daughter’s kindergarten class at Seaside Park Elementary School, where she worked until the school closed in 2010. Irene truly enjoyed working with the students. The children, parents, and staff loved her. In 2017, Irene became a resident of Rose Garden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Toms River until her death on June 22.
Irene is survived by her beloved children, her son Robert DiGenno, daughter-in-law Anne Marie, her daughter Susan Pitch and son-in-law Michael, her son Thomas DiGenno, and daughter-in-law Diane. She treasured her grandchildren, Andrea DiGenno, Thomas DiGenno Jr. and his wife Roni, and her grandson James DiGenno, and her great grandchildren Rebecca and Louis DiGenno and Louise Irene DiGenno. She is also survived by two sisters, Doris Kulsha and Jeanette Billie, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Irene loved singing, dancing, cooking, and entertaining. Above all, she loved her family and being with friends. We are all so grateful to have had Irene in our lives and she will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune of knowing her.
The viewing for family and friends is scheduled for Sunday, June 26th between 1 and 4 pm at the Mastapeter Memorial Home, 270 Atlantic City Blvd., Bayville, NJ 08721. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 27th at 11 am at St. Barnabas Church, Bayville, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in the name of Irene DiGenno to Memorial Sloan Kettering or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Irene DiGenno, please visit our floral store.