March 7, 1937 – June 1, 2021
Irmgarde L. McCaffrey, loving wife of George B. McCaffrey and known to friends as “Irma”, died Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at her home in The Hills, Texas at the age of 84 after a courageous, 3 ½ year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Irmgarde L. McCaffrey (Lersch) was born 3/7/1937 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. She was one of two children to Ruth G. Minton and Arthur A. Lersch. She graduated from Rosemont College in Bryn Mawr, PA, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Minor in Mathematics. Shortly after her graduation she married George B. McCaffrey, Oct. 4, 1958, and began her career in science at the Scripps Institute in La Jolla, CA, where George was stationed with the Navy. When George left the Navy, the couple moved back to the east coast where he initially attended Georgetown University, and she worked as a research scientist at NIH and the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. During her tenure there, she co-authored two publications on gas chromatography in scientific journals (1962).
Irma put her career on hold to raise her four children, Michael, Kimberly, Sharon and Patrick. George’s career took them to several cities across the US. Never one to sit idle, when the children were old enough, Irma went back to school and began a career in IT. When George’s work took them overseas to Saudi Arabia, she packed up the children, got them settled in a school just outside London and joined George in Saudi. There she was employed as a Data Processing Manager at the local hospital, working behind closed doors as women were not widely seen working in that culture. Upon returning to the US, the couple lived in the Chicago area, Springfield, MA, and a final stint overseas living in Hong Kong before moving to The Hills, TX. She continued to work for various companies throughout this time and retired from HP at the age of 80.
Irma and George finally settled in The Hills Texas, where they developed strong friendships with the community. There she enjoyed attending monthly socials, ballroom dancing and girl’s night out when the men would get together and play poker. Irma treasured her friendships, from her childhood and from every place she lived. These friends that spanned her lifetime joined her and George in celebration of important milestones, including her mother’s 105th birthday in 2010, her 80th birthday in 2017 and her 60th wedding anniversary in Oct. 2018. She and George also enjoyed annual Halloween parties, where she always coordinated their costumes.
She and George enjoyed travelling to locations near and far, where she enjoyed shopping the local markets. She was always looking for that special item, be it a piece of jewelry, wall hanging or furniture piece, that has special meaning and memories associated with the places they visited.
Irma is preceded in death by her parents, Ruth G. Minton and Arthur A. Lersch, her brother Arthur Lersch. She is survived by her husband George, her four children: Michael, Kimberly and her wife Rhonda, Sharon and her husband Andy, and Patrick; and nine grandchildren: Morgan, Rachael, Marsden, Michelle, Finn, Gage, Ryan, Georgia-Ann and Archie.
Irma was always pushing the status quo and encouraging us to always do our best. She lived her life fully, with no regrets. She was willing and wanted all possible treatments for cancer that had the potential to help all those impacted by this disease. In these final years, she was a role model of what true courage looks like, how to persevere with grace and dignity, and to show love and gratitude to all those who touched her life. We will carry you in our hearts always!
Services: Memorial Mass will be held Tuesday June 22, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at Emmaus Catholic Church in Lakeway TX. A Celebration of Life will follow the services at 12:00 p.m. at The Hills Country Club, 26 Club Estates Parkway Lakeway TX.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society, in memory of Irma. Donate at www.cancer.org
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