Irene T. Hirschmann

Irene passed away peacefully on Monday, January 8, 2018 (at age 87), joining her late husband of 50 years, Johann (Hans) Alfred Hirschmann; her late sister, Luitgard Eads; and her late brother Helmut Atz, in eternal rest and peace. Irene was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She is survived by her three children, daughter Monika Moore and her husband Brian, son John Hirschmann and his wife Christina, and daughter Marie Bennett and her husband Bryan; and by two brothers, Erwin Atz and Manfred Atz. She was blessed with four grandchildren; Shaun, Jacob, Jenna and Alex who she loved dearly. Irene raised her family in Bowie, Maryland, where she lived for 45 years. Irene was born in southern Germany in the small town of Ellwangen, located near Stuttgart. When Irene was in her early 20s, she moved to England and worked as a nanny for several years. Shen then traveled by ship to the USA in 1955 to visit her sister Luitgard, who was living in Indiana and had a new baby girl Heidi. Irene ended up staying in Indiana and took a job at an insurance company. She met her future husband Johann (Hans) when he came to visit his sister (Irene's roommate Margarethe) in 1959. Soon thereafter they married and moved to Washington, DC and started a family in 1962. With 3 children they needed a larger home, so they purchased their first and only home in Bowie, Maryland in 1967. They lived there 45 years until Hans passed away in 2012. Irene had proudly become a United States citizen in 1961. She loved children and always welcomed family and friends into her home, especially over the holidays. She was a great cook and baker, and always had delicious meals and desserts on the table. Irene also enjoyed watching Sunday afternoon football games, having a beautiful garden and taking walks around the neighborhood for exercise, visiting with friends and helping others in their gardens. Irene loved to laugh and always enjoyed company. She had a very generous spirit and a great heart. She will be dearly missed.