Irene B. Lindsey

Entered into rest Friday August 23, 2013, at the home of her daughter, surrounded by her beloved children. Irene was a devout woman, consistently choosing the path of faith and righteousness over the path of convenience, instilling those values of faith in her children. Irene was and will long remain the conscience of her family.

Irene was born March 29, 1927, in Paducah, Kentucky to Ernest and Utha Lee Bancroft. In 1932 the family moved home to Pensacola, Florida, where Irene grew up with her much older brothers Joe and Ernie. She met her future husband, Charles Henry Lindsey, Jr., through a high school girlfriend. They married on June 29, 1944, and moved to Southern California where Charlie was assigned to the Navy Seabees as part of the War Effort. After the War they moved home to the South. After a few years of indecision they returned to Long Beach with their "booming" but not yet complete family. The GI bill enabled them to buy their own home in Lakewood (Tomorrow's City Today), joining millions of others of this "Greatest Generation" who were defining and discovering the American Dream.

With only nominal exposure to church life as a child, Irene's deep spiritual yearnings were met with reciprocating grace from God. She was received into the Catholic Church in May of 1945 and confirmed with her husband in 1948. The genuineness of their experience was evidenced by a voracious appetite for spiritual reading, commitment to the sacramental life and consistency at daily family prayer. They were charter members of Saint Maria Goretti parish in Long Beach. Irene taught catechism, served as president of St. Peter's Guild and worked tirelessly in Scouting and other activities until the unexpected death of her young husband in 1968. In troubled circumstances, she made the bold move to relocate to her native Florida panhandle, trusting God for the establishment of a new life. As a financial planner she completed the raising of her own family, and helped many young families develop financial life skills. She attained numerous professional certifications, and although she never completed her own degree, we gratefully give her generous credit for the 9 college degrees of her children.

In death Irene will be reunited with her late husband Charlie, her daughter Mary Susan Carolyn Lindsey Walker and a son lost in infancy. She is survived by her children: Sharon Irene Lindsey Tellers (Kurt), Charles Michael Lindsey (Lyn), Charlet Ann Lindsey Cole (Larry), Joseph Francis Lindsey, Jane Elizabeth Lindsey Wilkes (Stan), Teresa Lee Lindsey Munroe (Mark), Carrie Lynn Lindsey Griffin (Jay); 18 grandchildren: Rachel, Natalie, Patrick, Chuck, Andy, Kathrine, Danielle, Christi, John, Lindsey, Elizabeth, Judson, Hannah, Benjamin, Melanie, Mark, Jillian and Jason; and 10 great grandchildren: Caleb, Daisey, Luke, Carrie, Jamie, Rory, Eamon, Alyssa, Brooklin and Eva.

Special thanks to Big Bend Hospice and Hopewell Home Health Care (Stephanie).

A visitation will be held on Monday, August 26, 2013 at Culley’s MeadowWood Timberlane Road Chapel from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 12:00 pm at Good Shepherd Catholic Church.