Visiting: Sunday (2/9) 2-6 PM
Mass: Monday (2/10) 9:30 AM @ Our Lady of Angels Church
Cemetery: Moravian Cemetery (Staten Island, NY)

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In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Irene's memory to:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

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Irene L. Hilke was born in Brooklyn on July 25, 1924 and left us peacefully at the age of 95 on February 5, 2020.

Her maiden name was Irene Louise Cordes. She was preceded in death by her husband Martin Frances Hilke. Irene was a loving mother to her son Glenn Hilke and Janice Malek. She was an amazing mother-in-law to Dr. Samir Malek and Heidi Coleman. She was a remarkable grandmother to Glenn's three children -  Ariel Dab-Hilke, Chelsea Dab-Hilke, Julian Coleman Hilke, and Janice's children - Samira Malek Houk and her husband Ian Houk, Matthew Malek, and Eric Malek.

She is now reunited with her sisters Evelyn Dubay and Madeline Tierney. She has one nephew, Evelyn's son Dr. Gregory Dubay and great-grand nephew Van Dubay.

At the young age of five years old, her mother sadly passed away leaving her to live with her grandmother. She had two loving sisters Evelyn and Madeline and the three remained extremely close until they preceded her in death.  She married Martin Hilke and they had two children - Glenn and Janice. Her fondest memories as a family were the summer vacations at Sunny Hill Farm in the Catskills. During those young years raising her children, she developed meaningful relationships with lifelong friends that truly enriched her life with wonderful moments.  Irene and Martin enjoyed many years of music and dancing at the American Legion Hall in their neighborhood Windsor Terrace until his sudden passing in 1986.

Irene worked at the Tablet newspaper as a receptionist in Brooklyn until the age of 65.  As she began a new chapter of her life, she met Louise, a co-worker also recently widowed. They became lifetime friends and travel companions visiting many states, Europe and the Caribbean. One of her most cherished trips was to Egypt with her sister Evelyn. And we can't leave out the many trips to last Las Vegas and monthly visits to Atlantic City and Yonkers until she was 93.

Most notably, Irene was an amazing grandmother to six grandchildren that she loved dearly. She traveled numerous years taking the bus to Montreal to be with three of her grandchildren living there. She also spent many family weekends with her three other grandchildren who lived in Staten Island.  Besides her love of travel, she enjoyed going to the theater, her  Friday night card group of 40 years, often playing  past midnight, and a truly dedicated Yankees fan.  Living in Bay Ridge for 45, she spent many a day with her friend Ruby taking their granddaughters to the park, or on weekly lunch dates and strolling 5th Avenue.

At the age of 93, she moved to an independent living in Farmington, CT and made some wonderful new friendships, but Irene always said her heart remained in Brooklyn, and her family is sure her spirit is all with us now happy to be back in Bay Ridge.