Obituary of Irene Rita Breining

Irene Rita Breining, 88, passed away peacefully on the day after Christmas 2011, at the Saratoga Retirement Community, where she had been a resident for the last eight and ½ years. Irene was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1923 to James and Rita Donegan. Her mother died shortly after Irene's birth and her father remarried Helen Pauline, her step-mother, two years later. The family eventually moved to Okmulgee, Oklahoma where she grew up with her sister Marie (Bourey) and two brothers, Larry and James Donegan. Irene earned her nursing degree in Tulsa, OK. She relocated to San Francisco with her sister in 1946 and worked at Stanford Hospital. Shortly afterward, she met Larry Breining at a church social function at St. Anne's Basilican Club in San Francisco. In 1948, they entered a marriage that would last almost 50 years and produced 6 children, 12 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Irene returned to her work in the nursing field in the 1960's where she eventually retired as the Director of Nursing at San Mateo Convalescent Hospital. In 1988, Irene and Larry moved from the family home in San Mateo to Sunnyvale to enjoy their retirement years which included tailgate parties before SF Giants games, bingo events, volunteering at St. Martin's Catholic Church & El Camino Hospital, traveling, as well as many family birthday & holiday functions. Their children & grandchildren were the light of their lives. In turn, Irene & Larry enriched the lives of not only their own family, but many others beyond. Irene is predeceased by her husband, Larry (1998), and daughter, Linda Anderson (1990), while survived by her children Lori Gelvin (Dean), Sue Bradley (Jerry- 2007), John Breining (Julie), Tim Breining (Susan), and Michelle Gober (Mark). She is also survived and dearly loved by 12 grandchildren and 11 great- grandchildren as well as a multitude of nieces and nephews and extended family. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am Saturday, Jan 7, 2012 at St. Martin's Catholic Church, 593 Central Ave., Sunnyvale, CA. There will be a Viewing in the hour prior to the Services. Irene will be laid to rest immediately following at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery 22555 Cristo Rey Dr., Los Altos. Directions will be supplied at the Services. A luncheon reception will follow the Burial Services.




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