Mrs. Irene Bennett lived 92 beautiful years!

The journey of life for Irene Sandra Bennett (née Lynch) began on October 17, 1925 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.  She was the daughter of Odell Jordan and Rufus Allen. Upon her mother's marriage, Irene became step-daughter to Cecil Lynch. Along with her  mother's teaching of "do-for-self", love of family and the importance of education, was the strong influence of her maternal grandfather, Pap-Pap Jordan. He instilled within her the importance of fortitude, perseverance and Christian values.  Irene was a spiritual and faithful daughter of God and was baptized at an early age which was the beginning of her life membership to First Baptist Church in Burgettstown. In fact, it was the Bible that fueled Irene's love of reading and upon graduation from Union High School her teachers encouraged her to continue that passion. She did just that including cuddling with her Nook e-reader (launched in 2009) while in her 80's.

Irene was beautiful, full of spirit and loved life.  She was a wonderful friend to her loved ones and known to be a trusted confidant with good advice and a strong shoulder.  However, it was after her marriage in 1948 to her childhood friend and love of her life, Alfred Donald Bennett, that came the time she called "her best years". Sweethearts Alfred and Irene were fortunate to live out their love on a farm with campgrounds owned by the Bennett brothers. Irene not only loved living on Bennett Acres for over forty years, she also loved being a wife and mother to Karen and Darren.  She said it was there she could feel all around her the love of her growing family, neighboring relatives, close friends and the community; while simultaneously seeing all around her the color green, her favorite.  She loved to garden and preserving the fruits and vegetables that she grew. She had a reputation for her Christmas trees that she instructed Iannetti's how to flock and then she decorated them to perfection.

Irene departed this life on Thursday, August 16, 2018. She was preceded in death by husband, Alfred D. Bennett; daughter, Karen Edwards; and granddaughter Lisa Elmore. She is survived by: one son, Darren (Diana) Bennett; three grandchildren, Andrea Ferguson, Daniel Bennett and J. Diamond (Walter) Bennett Williams; three great-grandchildren: Kristopher (Brittany) Brown, Jalen Ferguson and Sh'Kira Elmore; three great-great-grandsons, Donovan, Jaxon, and Braiden; best friend of over eighty years, Mildred Carter; and a host of relatives and loved ones.