Irene R Hamrick

Irene R. Hamrick, 91, of Springfield, passed away Friday, January 23, 2015, at St. John�s Hospice in Springfield, IL. She was born January 21, 1924 in Springfield to Max and Sylvia Rose Pell. Irene married Robert Anglan Hamrick on October 17, 1947 and he preceded her in death in 2005. She was also preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey, brothers Arnold and Frank Pell and son-in-law, David Bruna. Irene graduated from Springfield High School and from Springfield Junior College. She taught nursery school and kindergarten in her Lake Springfield area home from 1953 to 1980; upon her husband�s retirement they moved to Bonita Springs, FL. She opened Mrs. Hamrick�s Preschool Learning Center in Bonita Springs in 1981. She was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Southwest Florida Early Learning Coalition in 2006 before retiring in 2010 and moving to Springfield, where she enjoyed living at Brenden Gardens. She will be greatly missed by her children, Suzanne (David) Eldridge of Naples, FL, Marcia Bruna and Douglas Hamrick both of Springfield; grandchildren, Morgan (Lydia) Eldridge of Bonita Springs, FL and Grace Hamrick of Chatham; Great grandson, Brayden Thomas Eldridge of Bonita Springs, FL; brother, Morrie (Carolyn) Pell of Springfield; sisters, Frances Feuer of Springfield, and Florene Pell of Waianae, Hawaii; several nieces, nephews and cousins. In keeping with her wishes, no services will be held. Memorials may be made to St. John�s Hospice, 800 E. Carpenter Street, Springfield, IL, 62702; American Heart Association, 2524 Farragut Drive, Springfield, IL, 62704; SIU School of Medicine Foundation for Parkinson�s Disease, 927 N. Rutledge St., Springfield, IL, 62794. Irene�s family is being served by Staab Polk Memorial Home, 8855 State Route 4, Chatham, IL 62629.