Irene Gladys (Passer) Lancaster

Irene Gladys (Passer) Lancaster, age 87, passed away October 2, 2023 at home, surrounded by her family. Irene was born in Alden, Minnesota on December 8, 1935 to Roy and Evelyn Passer. She is the second of five girls. Her family moved to Grand Junction when she was 15 years old. This is where she met and fell in love with her soul mate Roy William Lancaster Sr. (deceased). They were married on February 19, 1954 and had 16 children, nine girls and seven boys. They had 41 glorious years of life together.

She lived a life loving our Lord, and instilled that love in each of her children. Being a mother is never easy, but being the wife of a chief of police and being a mother sort of tipped the scale for Irene, and she handled all of that with the serene calmness that she handled all things in life. She was very active in all her children’s lives and passed on words of wisdom to each and every one of them. Her last words of wisdom to her children were, "Love more, forgive sooner.”

Irene would say that her children brought out the best in her, but it was her evident kindness and charity to others that brought out the best in her children. She is survived by her children: Madonna Fell (Tim), Theresa Booker (Jody), William [Deuce] Lancaster (Laura), Ronald [Ron] Lancaster (Nancy), Rebecca Ryberg (Scott), Debra Lancaster, Roy W. Lancaster Jr., Hazel Lovato (Joe), Evelyn [Libby] Stafford (Roy Jr.), Mary Lancaster (Tony Moore), Joanne Toycen (Mark), Joseph [Joe] Lancaster (Jennifer), David Lancaster, Patrick Lancaster (deceased) [Ruthie], Elizabeth [Liza] Peoples (Alex); her 74 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. She is also survived by her two siblings, Vivian Passer, and Hazel Lewis (Donny), and two brothers-in-law, Carl Lancaster, and Paul Lancaster (Diane).

She is preceded in death by her parents Roy and Evelyn, her husband Roy, her son Peter John (stillborn), her son Patrick, her granddaughter Brooke and her sisters Bernice and Marie.

Her family would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers. They specifically would like to thank Abode Hospice. A special thank you to our Nurse Walter. A heartfelt thank you to Judith Shue, DNP and Darla Ochoa, RN, BSN for all of their love, support, and encouragement throughout all of this.

A viewing will be held at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary in Grand Junction on Thursday, October 12th from 2pm to 7pm. Rosary will start at 7pm.

A Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grand Junction at 11am on Friday, October 13th, followed by burial at the VA section in Orchard Mesa Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Lancaster family.