Irene Lee

Irene Phippard Lee left this earth to be with her mother, Mary, father, John, her sister, Kathleen and grandson Trevor as well as dear friends that had gone before her. For nearly thirty days she fought valiantly to cling to life, not just for her sake but for the sake of her family. she was finally overtaken by her illness at 7:26 a.m. on January 21, 2021 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Fontana, California.

Irene was born January 14, 1951 in Liverpool, England. She was the second oldest in a family of ten children born of the fruitful union of John Phippard and Mary (nee Fagan) Phippard.

Irene is survived by her three sons, Troy Lee; Tyson Lee and wife Renee Lee; Travis Lee and wife Nicole Bailey; eight grandchildren: Tavien Lee, Tysun Lee, Treyvon Lee, Hadrian Lee, Quinton Lee, DeShawn Lee, Ethan Lee, and Ian Lee; two brothers and seven sisters: Mary Jones, Margaret Lowry, Eileen Donnelly, John Phippard, Paulin Magee, Paul Phippard, Carol Elms May, Jacqueline Fleming, plus a score of nephews and nieces too numerus to mention here all by name. As well family friends such as Camisha.

Irene was known to be a diligent, dedicated, and hard working in everything she did. Before getting married she held various jobs and while she travelled Europe and Canada. Once settling down in the United States with her husband and children she started her career at the Rialto Unified School District. While starting off as a substitute food service employee, she would, over a twenty-five career of service with that very same school district, be promoted to being a manager of her own school kitchen where she was well respect and liked by many for being fair and understanding. In addition to her professional career, she always served in both roles as mother and father, of nurturer and disciplinarian at home because of her husband’s chosen career. Irene being the hard worker she was had a second job on nights and weekends while still working at the school district during the days, she worked that second job for over a decade and was often heard saying that a day off was a day when she only had to go to one of her jobs.

Despite her hard-working disposition, she had many personal interests. She enjoyed bowling, reading especially anything John Grisham wrote, and being involved with anything her sons were into. Whether it was serving as a pack mother to a Boy Scout troop or as a Team Mom to a little league team, she was always involved in her son’s activities. She had a special love for animals, especially dogs which she always had a pair in her home (powder & stubby). Her greatest passion was reserved for her family. Material possessions were not held to high regards, rather family bonds, and moral values which she tried to instill in her children and grandchildren. She was a woman of her word. Her word was her bond, and she would never break her word once it was given. She held her family closet to her heart. Never missing birthdays; the first person there at the hospital for the birth of a grandchildren. She always gave her time to listen and never passed judgement, while also giving advice. She supported her children through all of their endeavors and if she was asked for help; the answer was always yes. Irene’s greatest attribute was her strength to push through any adversities that crossed her path, which she carried with her through the last days of her life.