FORESTVILLE, N.Y. -
Irene B. VanRensselaer,
93, of Pearl Street, Forest-
Article Photos
ville, N.Y., passed away Fri-
day, Jan. 11, 2013, in the
Chautauqua County Home
in Dunkirk, N.Y.
She was born April 13,
1919, on Ball Hill in
Forestville, N.Y., the
daughter of the late Willi-
am and Bertha J. (West)
Wilks. Mrs. VanRensselaer
was a graduate of Forest-
ville Central School, class
of 1938.
Irene was the oldest
member of the Forestville
United Methodist Church
where she was a former
Sunday School teacher. She
was a past president of the
Forestville United Metho-
dist Women?s Association
and past president of the
Methodist Adult Group,
Pioneer Social Club of
Forestville. She had also
served as a Cub Scout den
mother, membership chair-
man of the PTA, past
president of the of the J.
Carter Knapp American Le-
gion Unit 953 Women?s
Auxiliary in Forestville and
past member of the Forest-
ville Grapevine Rebekah
Lodge. She will always be
remembered as a loving,
wife, mother and grand-
mother who enjoyed travel-
ing, camping and spending
time with her devoted fami-
ly and friends.
Irene is survived by her
three loving sons: David
VanRensselaer of Brocton,
Richard VanRensselaer and
Robert VanRensselaer and
wife Cindy of Forestville,
N.Y.; and five grandchil-
dren: Heather Hill, Heidi
Dashnow and husband
Mark, Stephen VanRensse-
laer, Julie Maneen and hus-
band Frank, and Brian Van-
Rensselaer and wife Melis-
sa; and six great-grandchil-
dren.
She was preceded in
death by her husband
Clyde E. VanRensselaer,
whom she married on Sept.
28, 1940, and who preced-
ed her on April 17, 2005; a
grandson; Jeffrey Van-
Rensselaer in 1977 and a
sister, Wilma Keith.
The family will be
present to receive friends
from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday
(Jan. 17, 2013) in the
Forestville United Metho-
dist where services will fol-
low at 5 p.m. in the church.
The Rev. James Hankey
will officiate. Burial will be
in the Forestville Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted
to her nephews, Howard
Vernon and Howie T. Van-
Rensselaer of VanRensse-
laer & Son Funeral Home,
14 Church St., Randolph,
NY 14772 and will be an-
nounced. To leave a con-
dolence, log onto
www.vanrensselaerandsonfuneralhome.com. Memori-
als may be sent to the
Forestville UMC, 3 Park
St., Forestville, NY 14062
or to the Forestville Rescue
Squad or Hospice of Chau-
tauqua County.