Irene "Beanie" Zimmerman, 70, of Auburn, died Friday.
Her departure from us begs the question. How can such a little person leave such a large hole? She was generous with her time, talent and affection and treasure. She made others feel wanted.
She taught her child that a trip to the library was an adventure that promised a thousand more adventures and instilled the habit of keeping a book at hand - so there was always somewhere to go.
From her mother she grew a green thumb. From her father she learned to handle a .22. The combination meant woe to critters who dared violate her gardens which were a kaleidoscope of color each spring and a bounty of crops by fall.
Magic unfurled when she put foot to pedal of a sewing machine. Brides were made more beautiful by her hand. Homes were made more lovely. Holidays were made happier with her mossy oak and hi-viz orange "red-neck" Christmas stockings (6-pack included).
When she stepped up to the stove, the resulting meal, while magnificent, was barely sufficient to sustain an infantry division. Especially when she was cooking for three.
When behind the wheel of a car, mailboxes, curbstones and garage doors feared her. It was suggested she take a hammer to the hood of new car before leaving the lot lest the universe unravel for its perfection in her care. The inside of her ride, too, was no match for mortals - a well curated museum of flotsam, week-old coffee, books and dog spit.
Irene was a practical person with a firm ethos: if a thing is on sale and one has a coupon, buy it in bulk (a surplus of twinkle lights, Christmas ornaments, kitchen tools and bacon are now available to anyone in need.)
She possessed feisty, well-formed opinions which she shared, often unsolicited, wherever she saw shenanigans or thoughtlessness.
She waited more than 30 years to meet (again) and marry her high school sweetheart. The romance was cut tragically short by his passing but they are now rejoined.
Irene merited far better than fate allowed - she bore each injury and injustice with a bottomless well of fortitude, positiveness and fierce independence. She was the glue that held many of us together.
She was born in Donaldson, in 1946, a daughter of the late Margaret and Melvin "Jack" Reiner.
She was a 1964 graduate of Tremont high school and continued her education at Penn State, where she received her associate degree. She had several careers - a seamstress, a realtor and a legal secretary.
Irene was preceded in death by her second husband, Robert W. Zimmerman, and sisters, Ida and Anna Marie Reiner.
She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Huntzinger Copeland, wife of Peter, New York, N.Y.; brothers, Alfred Reiner, husband of Debra, Johnstown, and John Reiner husband of Karen, Clayton, Wash.; sister, Mary Lengle, wife of Harvey, Pine Grove; first husband, Roger Huntzinger, Schuylkill Haven; nieces and nephews; and friend, Jerrilyn Carter wife of Chris, Auburn.
Services will be held privately at the convenience of the family. A Celebration of Life will be held in summer of 2017. The family request memorial donations to: Breast Cancer Research Foundation at www.bcrfcure.org or The Pink Fund at www.pinkfund.org/donate.