Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Irene M. Bush

March 17, 1916 - April 29, 2008

 

South Bend Tribune 5/1/2008
SOUTH BEND - Irene M. Bush, 92, of South Bend, died following an illness at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2008, in the Healthwin Specialized Care Facility. Mrs. Bush was born March 17, 1916, in St. Joseph County, to the late Louis and Ruth (Tavernier) Reichanadter, and had lived most of her life in the South Bend area.

 

On May 3, 1941, in South Bend, she married Hugh Bush, who preceded her in death on July 14, 2001. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Gerald (Grace) and Roland (Martha) Reichanadter. She is survived by two daughters, Sheila (James) Falls of Waikoloa, HI, and Marlene Reinking of South Bend; five grandchildren, James (Michele) Reinking of Granger, IN, Lisa Reinking of Fort Wayne, IN, Bruce (Shelley) Molnar of Huron, OH, David (Linda) Molnar of Houston, TX, and Jeffrey Molnar of South Bend; two stepsons, James P. (Susan) Falls of Brentwood, TN, and Kevin Falls of South Bend; 10 great-grandchildren, Christopher and Amanda Reinking, Ciera and Marisa Nussbaum, Amelia and Adam Molnar, and Amanda, Andrew, Alyssa and Daniel Falls; a nephew, John (Flora) Reichanadter, and their children, Elizabeth and Mark of Fishers, IN; and by her best friend, Betty (Carl) Kasa of South Bend.

 

Irene attended Central High School and graduated from the South Bend College of Commerce before starting her career in accounting at Studebaker's Plant #8. In 1955 her husband's employment took them to the Detroit, MI, area where she started a new career in advertising at J. Walter Thompson and later to Ford Dealers Advertising, Detroit and Lansing Districts. Retiring from there in 1981 she returned to South Bend where she was a member of the Mary Ann Club and the Mary Ann Bowling League. She was a very active member at First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, MI, and Sunnyside Presbyterian Church when she returned to South Bend. While living in Dearborn Heights, MI, she enjoyed live theater with season tickets, auto shows, art exhibits, and many cultural exhibits and shows. While in Dearborn she became a fan of Red Wings hockey and Lions football. Later, in South Bend, she became a Cubs baseball fan and Bears and Notre Dame football fan. Upon returning to South Bend she loved family get-togethers and cooking great dinners. She was a world-class pie baker of everyone's favorite pie.

 

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 2, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, with Barbara Wirt of Sunnyside Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will take place at a later date at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call in the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. today, May 1st, and one hour prior to the services. Memorial contributions may be made to Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, 115 S. Frances St., South Bend, IN 46617; to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637; or to the charity of the donor's choice.