Irene Rose Nemeth-Waite

Born on July 27, 1930, in Lodi, New Jersey, to Peter and Anna Stepp (Havasi), Irene’s earliest memories were of farm life—hands in the soil, helping her family with daily tasks, learning early what it meant to work hard and love deeply. At just five years old, she invited Jesus into her heart. Though raised Catholic, her faith grew into a personal and unshakable walk with God that would sustain her through joys, losses, and battles—including surviving cancer more than once.

Irene married Joseph Nemeth, and together they raised two sons, Peter and James. While she once worked as a telephone operator, her truest calling was motherhood. Nothing brought her more joy than being a mom, and later, a grandmother and great-grandmother. Quiet and kind, Irene’s faith was her compass. Wherever she went, she shared the story of Jesus—sometimes in words, always in the way she lived.

She loved the open road, traveling across the country from Florida to Arizona and beyond, relishing long drives alongside truckers. In her later years, she fulfilled a lifelong dream: visiting Israel, walking the very land where her Savior walked. Music also filled her life—whether listening to the Gaithers, singing in church, or treasuring her favorite hymn, God on the Mountain.

Her porch was a sanctuary, where mornings and evenings were spent with her son Peter, coffee in hand, talking about Jesus and life. Prayer wasn’t just a practice for Irene—it was her heartbeat. She prayed, then prayed again, then prayed some more.

Her love was not passive—it was sacrificial. For eleven years, she tenderly cared for her husband after he became bedridden, embodying unconditional love. And when the doorbell rang in 1995, Irene didn’t hesitate to open her home and heart to her granddaughter Katherine, only seven years old at the time. From then on, “My little girl,” as Irene called her, became not only her granddaughter but her daily reminder of love, strength, and purpose.

Strangers often noticed Irene’s sweetness, but those who knew her best would say her strength and boldness was just as great. She lived her faith not by preaching sermons but by walking them out—through endurance, gentleness, and unwavering hope.

She now rejoices in heaven as of September 26, 2025 with her parents, her five siblings, and a host of loved ones awaiting her. Her journey here has ended, but her story echoes into eternity. She leaves behind her sons, Peter and James Nemeth, her grandchildren Bryan Preti, Marlena Kolb, and Katherine Hewitt (Spencer), and her great-grandchildren, Harper Rose Hewitt and Liam Hewitt.

If Irene could leave one final message to the world, it would be this: “There is a God in Heaven who loves you. He wants a relationship with you. Find your purpose, and don’t wait—step into it.”

Her life was her testimony, her love was her legacy, and her faith was her gift to all who knew her.

“See you later alligator”