Irene Funk, age 85 of Stratford, the beloved widow of Arthur Funk, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 17, 2023, in VITAS Hospice in St. Mary Hospital, Waterbury with family by her side.

Irene was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 17, 1937, to the late William and Irene (Truss) Maguffin and was raised by her foster parents Bill and Mary McLaughlin in Franklin Square, NY. Irene and Arthur married in1959 and lived in Farmingdale, NY until they moved to Stratford, where they raised their family. They retired to Houston, Delaware in 1991 before returning to Stratford in 2010 to be closer to family.

Irene was a devout Catholic who loved her family deeply. She enjoyed holiday gatherings, family reunions, and impromptu visits from friends. She loved to bake and share her desserts with family and friends. Irene spent countless hours embroidering personalized gifts for family and friends and loved playing cards (especially Canasta) and board games, doing puzzles, gardening, going to the casino and playing bingo and the lottery. Irene enjoyed watching the New York Mets and, in her only experience as a coach, led her son's baseball team to an undefeated season, having told the players that the most important part of the game was having fun. She had a true love for life, always saw the beauty in others, and was quite the practical joker. Irene will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, love of laughter and kind heart.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, Arthur Funk. She is survived by her 6 children, Mary (Jeff) Malcolm, Joe (Marlene) Funk, Terri (Paul) Levesque, Chris Funk, Cathy(Dan) Plavcan, and Tricia Funk, 13 grandchildren, David, Tim (Jordan), Chris (Sonia), Jessica (Camilo), Emily (Mike), Renee, Kevin, Ryan, Connor (Nicole), Alyssa, Olivia, Chloe and Kyleigh and 5 great-grandchildren, who were the lights of her life, Skye, Madelyn, Alex, Landon and Logan. Irene is also survived by her siblings and in-laws Marilyn Anderson, Patricia Schnabel, Susan Haines, Joe (Joan) Maguffin, Jimmy Cavanaugh, Sandra Funk, Jeanette Funk and Rev. Jeffrey Funk and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by siblings and in-laws Hank (Rose) Maguffin, George (Marion) Maguffin, Johnny Cavanaugh, Ethel (Ross) Mangiapane, Catherine (Joseph) Crean, Jackie Cavanaugh, Sally (Allin) Vann, Fred Anderson, Carl Schnabel, Raymond Funk, and Jerry Funk.

Friends and family may visit on Sunday, March 26, 2023, from 1-4pm at Adzima Funeral Home, 50 Paradise Green Place, Stratford, CT.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 27, 2023, at Our Lady of Peace, 651 Stratford Rd, Stratford, CT at 10:00am followed by interment at St. Joseph's Cemetery, 1300 Stratford Rd, Stratford, CT.