Irene B Gonzalez's Obituary
Irene B Gonzalez Saffery, 95, on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. Formerly of Hasbrouck Heights, Park Ridge, and St. Petersburg, FL. Beloved wife of 52 years of the late William G. Gonzalez who died in 1991. Survived by her children; William and his wife Shirley of Chicago, Ill., Robert and his wife Dorothy of Stroudsburg, PA, John and his wife Ellen of West Milford, NJ, James and his wife Sally of Sparta, NJ, 9 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.
Irene loved and lived life to the fullest, with her family, her career, and her dancing. She grew up, married and raised "her boys" in Hasbrouck Heights and then Park Ridge, NJ where she began her teaching career, first at Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Twp and then in the Westwood School System as chairman of the the English Deparment at Westwood Jr. High School and an educator of English literature at Westwood High School. Irene had her BS degree at Montclair State University and MA at Seton Hall University and was an Alumni Association member of both universities.
When she retired from teaching in 1974, Irene and Bill moved to Florida and she found another joy in her life in ballroom dancing. She was a founding member, treasurer, and vice president of the Treasure Coast Chapter of the United States Amatuer Ballroom Dancing Association. Over the years she won over six hundred trophies in competitions in Florida and other major national competitions while accumulating 16 awards in international competitions. She opened her own dance studio in 1987 at the age of 72. She finally retired from dancing in 2007 and moved to Stroudsburg, PA to be closer to family in 2008 leaving countless friends in Florida. She will be missed.
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