Irene Emil

Mrs. Irene H. Emil, 90, of Biloxi, MS, died Friday, August 27, 2010, in Biloxi. Mrs. Emil was born in Brooklyn, NY August 1, 1920, to Helen and Herman Hoffer. Her father was a member of the U. S. Marine Corps and her mother was one of the first women in the U. S. Marine Women's Corps. She was an athlete while attending New York University and tried out for the olympics, competing in swimming. She married her college sweetheart, Bernard, and spent many years dedicating herself to teaching special education. She retired with her husband to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to be close to her son, Gerald Emil, and his family. Irene was a member of Temple Beth Israel and was devoted to her faith. She was a member of the Broadwater Country Club and the Sunkist Country Club. She enjoyed golfing, bridge, traveling, gardening and the arts. Being a member of the Magnolia Miniature Club she created exquisite doll houses and vignettes of museum quality. She was an artist, and enjoyed sharing her paintings with her friends. Irene is survived by her sister, Rita Kreisberg; brother, Martin Hoffer; son, Steve; daughter, Suzanne Gavozzi; grandchildren, Carri Lyons, Justin Emil and Nichole Goodspeed; former daughter-in-law, and good friend, Nancy Begley; and three great grandchildren, Zachary and Emma Lyons and Sidney Ann Goodspeed. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard, and her son, Gerald. The family extends deep appreciation to the ICU unit, the fifth floor nurses and Dr Marion Wainwright of Biloxi Regional Medical Center and to Deaconess Hospice, especially their nurses, Susan and Mandy, whose tender loving care will forever be remembered. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Irene's memory to Temple Beth Israel. Graveside services will be held Monday, August 30, 2010, at 9 a.m. at the Beth Israel Cemetery section of Southern Memorial Park. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Pass Road, in Biloxi is in charge of arrangements.