Irene Phyllis Michalski

Irene Phyllis Michalski passed away on Thursday, February 9th, 2017 at the wonderful age of 101. She was a long time resident of Erie, PA, and since 2002 resided in Camp Hill and most recently in Carlisle, PA.

Irene had a passionate enthusiasm for life, for learning and had an endearing sense of humor. Irene’s philosophy was to love others. To be kind. To show appreciation. To respect children and to honor their needs. Always a woman of principal and high principles, her love for God and her family were the source of her strength.

Irene was born in 1915 in Erie, PA, as the first of four daughters of the late Cecilia Mikolajczak Cyzeski and Joseph Cyzeski. In 1933 she graduated from Academy High School in Erie, and later the Erie Comptometer School. She attended the Business College of Erie and studied at the University of Michigan. Irene loved music and had a beautiful soprano voice for which she was awarded a scholarship to the Julliard School of Music in New York City.

At age 22, Irene married Charles Michalski, a linguist, author, educator, and specialist in English, Speech, and Spanish. In the early years of their marriage they lived in New York City, where their first child, Marcia, was born. At various times throughout their life, they lived on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where Charles was on the faculty.

A significant chapter of Irene’s life developed when they moved to South America, where Charles accepted a position with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Inter-American Affairs. From 1945-1949 they lived in Lima, Peru, and Santiago, Chile. While there she continued with private voice lessons and became fluent in Spanish.

Irene had many fascinating travel experiences throughout those four years. She attended parties at the American Embassy and at the home of Peru’s President José Bustamante y Rivero. She fell into a jaguar trap while touring the Amazon jungle, went on an archeological dig in the Andes Mountains, and rode in and out of Machu Picchu on mule back.

After returning to the U.S., Irene enjoyed giving talks about their life in South America and hosted visitors with the International Institute in Erie, PA. She would have accompanied her husband for another assignment in Java, Indonesia, but at that time their second child, Peggy, was born. Eight years after that, at age 46, she gave birth to their son, Jack.

Irene was an artistic and creative soul. She felt beauty in every form and was always open to discovery. She loved fashion, both designing and sewing clothing. She studied interior design and worked for an interior designer. She entertained with style making each guest feel like the guest of honor. A music lover all her life, she was a member of the Erie Philharmonic Choir, and even joined the church choir after moving to Camp Hill at age 87. She always marveled at nature’s beauty, enjoying birds, butterflies, animals, flowers, and even the fresh air itself. Irene always found time to garden and volunteer at the school library.

All her life, Irene hungered for learning. As soon as she could read, lying on her tummy on the floor, she avidly read the newspaper and magazines her family subscribed to. She loved school. She became editor of the yearbook and the school poetry book. Reading became her window to all aspects of the world. Throughout her adult life, Irene collected an extensive personal library of books on all subjects. She valued her intellect and always encouraged her family to study, read, and learn as much as possible.

Irene had a rich family life. She is survived by her two daughters, Marcia Wharton of Mechanicsburg, PA, Peggy Addington of Houston, TX and son, Jack McCall of Alta Loma, CA, son-in-law Dean Wharton, daughter-in-law Lynn McCall, granddaughters Amy Tirion, Jill Wharton, Paige McCall, and Miranda McCall; and grandsons Scott Addington and Sterling McCall. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Eva and Aria Tirion, Reilly and Tucker Haefemeyer, Isabella and Eloise Lampe. Irene was preceded in death by Charles Michalski, her husband of 46 years, and her three sisters, Aurelia Mosher, Carolyn McLaughlin, and Dorothy Booth.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Monday, February 13, 2017 in St. Patrick Church, 152 East Pomfret St. Carlisle. Viewing will be from 3 – 5 pm on Sunday in Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, New Cumberland. Burial will be at 3 pm on Tuesday in Trinity Cemetery, Erie.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 717 Market St.
Suite 108 Lemoyne, PA 17043.

To send messages of condolence to the family or for driving directions, please visit www.Parthemore.com .