Obituary: Irene Kintzel, 84, Passes Away

Irene was the beloved Aunt of Elizabeth and Jan Trendowski of East Haddam, and passed away on Monday.

Irene lived with them for the past twelve years. Anyone meeting Irene knew immediately of her brilliant mind.

She was born in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, moved to Hallandale, Florida, Highland, Illinois and then to East Haddam, Connecticut.

Irene was one of the first female toxicologists of her generation in the United States. She worked in the Medical Examiner's Laboratory at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida.

She worked as what is now referred to as C.S.I.  Irene worked only on deaths by unnatural causes, and she loved her work.

Irene also leaves her beloved Dachshund, Mackey.

Mackey was a rescued Dachshund along with others at the Trendowski home.

The bonding was immediate and forever when he arrived his first day in East Haddam. He saw Irene and never left her side. Not even in her last days.

Mackey was there every minute. Mackey is broken hearted but is being well taken care of by Elizabeth and Jan and the other rescue Dachshunds at their home.

Irene died at home. She had said that she wanted it that way if at all possible. Hospice nurses, social workers and home health aides were spectacular throughout Irene’s end-of-life care. She loved all of them.

Irene’s request would be to donate to Hospice.

We will never be able to thank them enough for their care and expertise.

We all miss Irene, very much. She left her profound, intelligent fingerprints on our lives. The world is a better place because Irene was here, making a positive difference. ...And that's about as good as it gets in life.