Obituary: Irene Filice Zakreski

Irene Filice Zakreski, of Lawrence Township, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the University Medical Center at Princeton.

Born in the Chambersburg section of Trenton, she was an area resident all of her life. Irene was a retired teacher and reading specialist, having taught in the Hamilton and Lawrence Township school systems. She received her bachelor’s in education at Trenton State College.

Irene was active in the St. Joseph’s and Lawrence Township PTAs, Rider University Faculty Association, and the Lawrence Township Senior Citizen’s Club No. 5.

Loving wife to her late husband Chester, and devoted mother to her four children, she was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining her many friends. She and Chester loved to travel and visited many places, both nationally and internationally.

Daughter of the late Joseph and Isabella Di Via Filice, beloved wife of the late Chester F. Zakreski, and sister of the late John Filice, she is survived by a daughter Nancy Freeman and her husband John of Darien, Conn.; three sons, Richard S. Zakreski and his wife Julie of Fair Haven, N.J., Robert W. Zakreski of Trenton, and Randall J. Zakreski and his wife Katie of Downingtown, Pa. Also surviving are seven grandchildren Matthew, Laura, Katie, Jamie and Peter Zakreski and John and Christian Freeman; her sister, Rosina Filice McKee; three sisters-in-law, Pearl and Bernice Liput and Jean Friedman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral for Irene will be held on Friday, Sept. 30, at 9 a.m. from Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Rd., Lawrence Township. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at The Church of St. Ann in Lawrence. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Hamilton Township.

Family and friends may call on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Chester and Irene Zakreski Memorial Scholarship Fund. Please make checks payable to “Rider University” with “Zakreski Scholarship” in the memo line and mail to: Rider University, Moore Library, Suite 137, 2083 Lawrence Rd., Lawrenceville, N.J. 08648. To make a gift online, go to www.rider.edu/give For assistance; call 609-896-5167.