IRENE B. KESSLER

Surrounded by her family on Camano Island, in front of the mountain view she loved, our mom, Irene B. Kessler, passed away at the age of 82 on Sept. 24, 2009. We miss you!

Born in Detroit, Mich., to Carl and Pauline Straub, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from the University of Michigan and received a Master of Science degree from Sacramento State College.

At Michigan, she joined the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and was president of the ice skating club.

She taught at LaSierra High School in Sacramento and was recognized for her creative and innovative classes in backpacking, fencing, survival swimming and square dancing.

Married in 1950 to Roger Kessler of Ann Arbor, Mich., she lived in Oak Park, Ill., Sacramento, Calif., and Camano Island.

She loved history, reading, gardening, ceramics, beautiful music and travel.

Through her planning skills, her family followed many historical trails across the U.S. and Canada, visiting 49 of 50 states, many national parks, caves and friends.

Cheerful and helpful, her joy came in serving others and in creating beautiful things.

We cannot thank her enough for the encouragement and creative juices she instilled in us, her children. She had a sense of order and duty to always do the right thing. Her sense of the eternal and her love for beautiful music will be with us forever.

She is survived by her husband Roger, her son Rex and his wife Sharlie of Granite Bay, Calif., her daughter Joanne and husband David Wilson of Camano Island, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

There will be no memorial services.

Memorial contributions can be made, in her honor, to the Marcia Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research in Seattle.