Irene M. Schwan

Irene M. Schwan passed away November 10, 2023, two blocks from where she was born at home on Howard Avenue to Joseph and Lena Morice and only one block from where she was baptized at Nativity BVM Church 104 years ago. 

She spent her entire 104 years in Biloxi. She lived an incredible life growing up in the apartment above her parents’ business, Star Grocery, where street cars passed daily, and she needed only to walk out of her front door to be on the parade route during Mardi Gras. Irene loved the water and would walk to the beach in the summers to swim in the Gulf of Mexico. Irene would go on to attend Louisiana State University, where she graduated in 1942 and go on to become a teacher at Howard No. 2 School. 

Irene loved all sports, none more than her LSU Tigers football team, and she spent many afternoons playing golf at Sunkist Country Club. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Antonina "Lena" Morice, her husband Fred R. Schwan, sister Nancy Hall, and brother, Vincent Morice. 

Irene is survived by her son Fred R. Schwan, Jr. (Kathryn) and her grandson Fred R. Schwan, III (Alexandra).

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Nativity BVM Cathedral.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 15, 2023 from 10:00-11:00 AM at Nativity BVM Cathedral in Biloxi with a service to follow at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Southern Memorial Park.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Irene Schwan.