Alice “Irene” Cordes of Eureka MO died from complications of COVID-19 on November 8, 2020 at the age of 94. Two of her daughters were with her in the hospital at the time she passed, and she got to see her only living son and talk with her close family in the days before she died.

Irene worked as a nurse for almost 60 years, starting off in 1948 preparing to serve in the Nurse Cadet Corps, but WWII ended before she graduated. When she retired, Irene volunteered for Hospice and continued helping others, even after she quit driving at age 90. Her heart and love was most reserved for her five children, who she raised alone after divorcing from a 15 year marriage (in 1964).

Irene is remembered as being a “sunshine lady”; cheerful, resilient, and resourceful. She tried to live Christian morals, and going to church and reading the Bible were very important to her. She also enjoyed needlepoint, solving crossword puzzles, playing organ (which she taught herself), loved doing jigsaw puzzles, and was hard to beat at Scrabble.

Irene Cordes is deeply missed by her surviving children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and the many friends she made and countless lives she helped make a little better during her long career as a nurse and very long lifetime of helping others.

Sources:

Alice “Irene” Cordes obituary at Schrader Funeral Homes