Irene Marie Ehscheid

Devoted wife, beloved mother, grandmother and aunt, Irene Marie Ehscheid passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of October 11 after a prolonged hospital stay. 

She was 87 years old. 

Irene was born in Baldwin, New York and spent her formative years amidst the company of family and friends on Long Island, pursuing her passions of music and sports, participating with the Baldwin High School band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in 1954 and in state competition as a fencer over her junior and senior years. She spent her summers on Long Island’s Jones Beach where she worked as a lifeguard over several joyous summers. She graduated from Baldwin High School in 1955 and completed a degree as a medical assistant in New York City at the Mandel School in 1957.  

After marrying Arthur Raymond Ehscheid in Wantaugh, New York in October 1957, Irene spent years as a military officer’s wife, traveling around the world and being stationed in several locations across Europe, Africa and Asia. Her adventures included careening across Spain to Gibraltar with friends in a not-so-well kept car, washing laundry in the open air “laundromats” in Morocco, seeing Elvis Presley in concert in Frankfurt during his military service, and trekking across Hokkaido visiting Japanese artisan shops. Irene and Artie enjoyed each other’s company through numerous competitive social activities, including bowling, card playing and square dancing, where they do-si-doed across stages in Europe, Japan and the United States, vivaciously competing for a collection of trophies. 

Irene was known to her friends as a dedicated connector, bringing together family and friends for various events and celebrations. Irene also held a passion for travel, crossing the United States numerous times, by car and by air. She enjoyed cities but treasured nature-focused trips including journeys through Alaska, California and New England. Irene’s numerous passports were well-stamped, as she and her husband adored cruising internationally, often sailing in the company of her sister Dorothea Sarah Lembke and her brother-in-law, Arthur Frederick Lembke. She held an equal passion for animals, especially with a love of dogs. In her life, she adored caring for dachshunds, chihuahuas, schnauzers and even a beagle in her later years.  After the passing of Arthur in 2006, Irene vigorously pursued additional activities, including water aerobics, square dance classes, casino trips with the Bowie Senior Center and membership in the social group Phoenix Rising with whom she enjoyed numerous dinners out and potlucks with new friends. 

Irene is pre-deceased by, and now reunited in spirit with her husband Arthur Raymond (d. 2006), her parents Hazel Marie (Rhodes) Kolb (d. 1993) and Oscar Adolf Kolb (d.1967), her sister Dorothea Sarah (Kolb) Lembke (d. 2001), her brother-in-law Arthur Frederick Lembke (d. 2022) and her nephew Dr. Arthur Frederick “Butch” Lembke Jr. (d. 2021).  

She is survived by her son Arthur Raymond Ehscheid and his husband Saverio Mancina (residents of New York City); her daughter Dorothea Marie Ehscheid Thomas and her husband Aaron Thomas and her grandson Alex Reese Thomas (residents of Bowie, Maryland); her niece Nicole Lembke, great nephew Arthur Frederick “Rick” Lembke III and his wife Michele Lee; her niece Irene Marie Hall and her husband Stephen Lowell Hall and great nephew Kevin Lowell Hall and his wife Emily Clare Royer. 

Visitation and viewing will be held on October 19, 2024 at Gasch’s Funeral Home, 4739 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, Maryland 20781 from 9:30AM until 11:00AM with a Memorial Service to be held from 11:00AM until noon. Immediately following, Irene will be laid to rest with her husband at historic Fort Lincoln Cemetery, 3401 Bladensburg Road, Brentwood, Maryland 20722

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Irene Marie Ehscheid may be made to ASPCA by clicking here. Please tick the notification box to send an e-card sent to Ray Ehscheid (evmare@hotmail.com).