Obituary of Irma H. Rhoney

Mrs. Irma Helen Stricker Rhoney of Jamestown died at Hamot Medical Center on January 6, 2017. She was born in Evanston, Illinois, on February 25, 1932, the daughter of the late Clement and Helen Hoeynck Stricker. She graduated St. Gregory High School in 1950, and Mundelein College with a B. S. Degree in Foods and Nutrition in 1955. She married Edward C. Rhoney of Niagara Falls, New York, on March 2, 1957 and together they had seven children: Christopher (Christine) Rhoney of Stafford, Virginia; Helen Rhoney Neu of Dayton, Ohio; Connor (Marilyn) Rhoney of Jamestown; Brendan (Christine) Rhoney of Beaverton, Oregon; Kathleen (Matthew) Rhoney Philips of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Matthew Sean Rhoney; and Maureen (Peter) Rhoney Hodgins of Gallatin, Tennessee. Mrs. Rhoney was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Edward, her infant son Matthew Sean, her brother Paul, and her parents. She is survived her sisters Mary Malvick of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Eleanor Lazok of Prescott Valley, Arizona; her six children, 14 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Rhoney was a devout parishioner of St. John Roman Catholic Church for over 50 years, and was active in several parish organizations, including the Parish Council as member and president, Liturgy Committee, and Church Choir. She was one of St. John's first Eucharistic Ministers. Religious functions and Mass attendance were very important to her and were the central focus of her life. Additionally, she was a member of the Cursillo Movement and the Koinonia Ministry of the Diocese of Buffalo, and was a very active member of the Kairos Prison Ministry Program with her husband. She was employed by the Jamestown Private Industry Council for many years as a teacher, retiring in 1997. She was also a substitute teacher for the Jamestown Public School System and the Falconer Central School District. She was briefly employed as a Registered Dietician at Jamestown General Hospital. Irma passionately supported the activities of her husband with the Boy Scouts of America, both during his 14 years with the BSA Professional Service and as a Volunteer Scouter. Irma was an avid sewer and quilter, a superb pianist, a voracious reader, and recently obtained her Master Gardener Certification from the Chautauqua County Agricultural Council. Her garden was frequently recognized for its superb appearance, most recently with the Grow Jamestown Award in 2013. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, January 12, 2017 in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be held at 1:45 p.m. led by the Rev. Dennis Mende. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 13, 2017 at Holy Apostles Parish, St. John Church. Mrs. Rhoney will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery following the Mass. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made in her name to one of the following charities: The James Prendergast Public Library, Holy Apostles Parish, or Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County. Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Rhoney's family at www.lindfuneralhome.com.