Irene Mainwaring

Irene Goldie Mainwaring died at her residence at Altera-Sterling House in Alliance, December 5, 2011. She was ninety years old.
She was the youngest of four children born to Michael and Meri Bilcze, and graduated from Alliance High School in 1939. Her promised graduation gift of a visit to her grandparents in Hungary dissolved when war was declared that autumn. Goldie's generation went to war, into the factories and into jobs to support the effort. The following year, she married Dave Mainwaring and eventually worked at the Alliance Manufacturing Company. Years later, she resigned to co-found the Mainwaring-Frasier Travel Agency with former Alliance resident Katherine Frasier.
Goldie became Alliance's "first lady" when Dave was elected mayor in the late '50s. In 1963, he was appointed registrar of motor vehicles, necessitating a move to Columbus. She eventually came to embrace the capital city, but the first year, insisted on going "home" every week end. She loved sports and soon Ohio State football and basketball edged out the weekly drives. Alliance was always home to her, and she chose to return four years ago to live her final years in these familiar surroundings.
She was preceded in death by her immediate family which included her sister, Mary Bodo; two brothers, Mike and Joseph (Jokie.) Besides her immediate family, Goldie was preceded in death by her former husband; his brothers and sisters-in-law, all of whom maintained a life-long bond.
Goldie is survived by her son, Dave (Phyllis) of Missoula, Montana, and her daughter, Michal of Washington D.C. She has four treasured grandchildren; David (Kim) of Salem, Oregon, Kristin (Jason) McCulloch, Scott, both of Missoula, and Geoffrey of Great Falls, Montana. The McCullochs' have three children; Kade, Kenadi and Chloe. In this area are three nephews; Joe and Tom Bilcze and Bill Mainwaring, along with her niece, Leigh Mainwaring. A fourth nephew, Jack Mainwaring, lives in Dallas, Texas.
Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, December 8, 2011, at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at the funeral home. Interment will be at Alliance City Cemetery.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Altera House, who were immensely kind in ensuring that her last years were happy and content.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the David R. and Irene G. Mainwaring Scholarship at the Alliance High School Foundation, P.O. Box 3123, Alliance, Oh. 44601 would be appreciated.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, Oh., 44601.