July 15, 1935- September 21, 2024
Irene Burlile Eckfeldt was born with her twin sister, Iris, July 15, 1935 in Boise, Idaho. She was one of six children of Beulah and Doug Burlile. Irene graduated from Nampa High School in 1953. She attended Northwest Christian College in Eugene, OR graduating with a Bachelor of Religious Education degree in 1957. There she met Marvin Eckfeldt and they were married June 5, 1957 in Milwaukie, Oregon. They shared life together for thirty-six years. Marvin’s graduate seminary studies took them to Oklahoma were their sons Bruce Douglas and Brian Dean were born. The family moved to Salem OR where son Kent Charles was born. Irene was employed there as a bookkeeper for a small family business.
When the family moved in Kent, WA in 1967 she began working in the Kent School District as an elementary reading aide specialist. For ten years she served as a Kent Head Start teacher and social service worker. She took professional and graduate classes at Seattle Central Community College, Highline Community College, Seattle Pacific University and Green River Community College. She earned her Masters of Social Work from the University of Washington in 1988. From 1988 to 2000 she was a family case manager for Catholic Community Services in Kent, retiring in 2000.
She was a Cub Scout den mother and volunteer at the Seattle Crisis Line. She liked reading, hiking, Storm basketball, Husky Women’s basketball, being a church volunteer, her family and activities for personal growth. Irene Eckfeldt died September 21, 2024 in Kent, Washington at the age of 89. She was preceded in death by her sister Betty Ann Lyda of Oregon, her brother Jim Burlile of California, and her twin sister Iris Robison of Idaho. She is survived by sisters Jeannie Hayes of California and Barbara Cunningham of New York. Her sons, Bruce Eckfeldt (Lisa Dawson) Seattle, WA; Brian Eckfeldt, Seattle, WA; Kent Eckfeldt (Margie Nelson), Renton, WA. Granddaughter Emma Isako Eckfeldt, Honolulu, Hi; grandson Noah Isamu Eckfeldt, Spokane, WA and Marvin Eckfeldt, Kent, WA. There are sixteen nieces and nephews. The family is grateful to Donina Savencu and the excellent care staff of New Options AFH in Kent for that loving and professional care they provided Irene for the past three years. A Celebration of Life wil be held Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Yahn & Son Chapel, 55 W Valley Hwy S, Auburn, WA.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Irene’s honor (indicate her name with the gift) may be made to: Pasado’s Safe Haven, PO Box 171, Sultan, WA 98294 https://www.pasadosafehaven.org/ways-to-give/in-honor-of/
Catholic Community Services, Kent Family Service Center, 229 W Smith St, Kent, WA 98032 ccsww.org/donateKC.
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