Irene L. Greig

Irene Louise Greig, age 76, of Wayne, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2019.

Irene was born and raised in Paterson in the family home on Elberon Ave. Her parents, Leander and Irene Van Hoorebeke owned a luncheonette in town called Lenny’s Lunch Bar on Union Boulevard and, as was quite customary for high school students of Irene’s era, her family pulled her from school before she could graduate so that she could help out in the family business. Down the street from the luncheonette was another business called Greig Brothers Floor Covering Company. The guys from Grieg Brothers would come into the luncheonette almost every morning to pick up a cup of coffee before going to their first installation. Alfred “Al” Greig was one of those young men and, while he quickly took notice of Irene, it took him a couple of months to build up the courage to ask her out on a date. Much to his delight, she accepted his invitation and their first date was out to the movies followed by a bite to eat at The Texan – a hot dog joint on Route 23 in Wayne. Their love and admiration grew and, one night while in Al’s car, he asked Irene if she would consider marriage. Once again, Irene smiled and gave him the answer he was looking for. They married on Saturday, November 30, 1963 at the Methodist Church in Wayne. After the wedding, the newlyweds hopped in Al’s maroon Chevy Corvair convertible and headed down the road for a three day honeymoon in Washington D.C. It was just three quick days because that’s all the time Al’s father would give him off from work.

Irene and Al’s first home as man and wife was in a garden apartment on Katz Avenue in Paterson. After about three years, they moved to a first-floor apartment in a two-family home in Totowa. This was followed by their own first home together on Valley Road in Wayne and finally to their present home in Wayne where they’ve lived for the past twenty-eight years.

Irene worked for a couple of years at the Kresge Department Store in Wayne’s Preakness Mall. When Stern Brothers Clothing and Department Store opened in the same mall, she took a job there starting out on the sales floor in various departments. It quickly became apparent to upper management that Irene was great with numbers – a virtual human calculator. They quickly moved her into the Credit Department where her skills could be best utilized. Irene enjoyed a long career spanning over twenty–eight years with Sterns until retirement in 2007, shortly after the store was bought out by Macy’s.

While much time was dedicated to her work at Sterns, Irene also enjoyed being home in the company of her beloved husband Al and, over the years, her faithful poodles Cindy, Ginger and Rusty. She always considered time spent in the kitchen to be a joy and it was evident to all because her culinary creations where delicious! Family favorites included Irene’s pot roast, red cabbage and noodles, and delicious tasty soups. Holidays were always looked forward to at her brothers Ray and William’s homes. Irene and Al also enjoyed some pretty special trips as husband and wife. They took a couple of cruises enjoying time in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and seven different other islands in the Caribbean. Then there was the ten day trip to Florida with good friends touring the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and also Universal Studios where, although being in a wheelchair, Irene managed to get on a couple of wildly memorable rides.

In many respects, Irene’s life was one exemplified by acts of service. She and Al were heavily involved in their local Wayne Elks Lodge #2181. Irene served as president of the Elks Ladies Auxiliary and was always by Al’s side to assist him in the booking of weddings and other events, ordering of food, setting up and cleanup. It was not unusual for there to be multiple events in one day at the Elks Lodge and sometimes they would work together from sun-up till way beyond sundown. After they married, Irene and Al called St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Wayne their church home. Irene enjoyed singing in the church’s choir as a strong soprano, working in the kitchen for various events and fundraising dinners like the ones that were held for the church-sponsored orphanage in Kenya, Africa, and providing loving support for the annual blessing of the animals. She lived out her faith in God in her own special way, choosing to live by quiet example. She would often say, “If God made you, there has to be some good in you” and she always looked for that “good” in everyone that crossed her path. She was a real inspiration as she helped others in their own personal walks with God.  

Irene was the beloved wife of Alfred, blessed in marriage for 55 years. She was the much-loved sister of Raymond Van Hoorebeke of Belvidere, and William Van Hoorebeke and wife Eleanor of Mount Arlington; dear aunt of Lisa, Raymond, Jr., Ronald, Lori, Karen, and Elizabeth; and dear great-aunt of numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Irene’s name are asked to consider a gift to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.