Irene Pearl Starr, born on February 26, 1926, in Milwaukee, WI, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2024, at the age of 98. Her journey through life was one of resilience, strength, and kindness, and she touched the hearts of everyone who knew her.
Irene was raised in an unstable household, and the turmoil she faced led her to run away from home at the age of 15. She and her best friend boarded a train headed west, deciding to stay on until it reached the end of the line. Along the way, they were accompanied by soldiers who, recognizing the young girls’ vulnerability, protected them and provided food. Their adventure ended in California, where Irene found work at a soda fountain and later became a “Rosy the Riveter” in a munitions plant during World War II.
Irene credited her survival to the kindness of strangers who helped her along the way. In California, she convinced her mother to join her, where she found work as a seamstress. It was in California that Irene met the love of her life, and they shared 43 years of marriage. Later in life, Irene pursued a career in real estate, spending 36 years with Davis Realty in Grass Valley.
Irene was known for her infectious sense of humor and her mission to make at least one person smile each day. Her kindness and laughter brightened the lives of everyone she met, and she was deeply loved and adored by her family and friends.
She is survived by her son, Patrick Mulligan; her granddaughters, Eilleen Allen, Corin Sakai, Michelle Thurston, and Jennifer Meyer; and her great-grandchildren, Kyanne, Sarah, Trevor, Dakota, Sam, Henry, Mackenzie, Ellie, Avery, and Taylor.
Irene’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her, and her legacy of kindness, humor, and strength will never be forgotten.
Irene will be greatly missed, but her laughter and love will continue to echo through the lives of her family and friends.
