Irene Grabenstein, 1922- 2017

Irene Grabenstein, 1922- 2017

The following are excerpts from Irene Grabenstein’s obituary as it appeared on the Scarpelli Funeral Home's website.

Mrs. Grabenstein was long-active in the region’s Catholic community, held numerous professional and civic positions and received many honors throughout her career:

“CUMBERLAND – Irene (Ley) Grabenstein, 94, of Cumberland, passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the Western Maryland Health System Regional Medical Center.

Born on August 18, 1922, in Cumberland, she was the daughter of the late Bertha (Keller) and Leo H. Ley, Sr. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Herman J. Grabenstein, Jr.; son, Lawrence A. Grabenstein; brothers, Dr. Leo H. Ley, Jr., and Robert G. Ley; sisters, Lucille (Ley) Moser, Mary Catherine (Ley) Kennedy, and Alberta (Ley) Robinson; and step-mother, Irene K. Ley.

Irene attended SS Peter and Paul Elementary School, the Ursuline Academy, class of 1940, and the Ursuline Business School. She was a lifelong member of SS. Peter & Paul Shrine, Our Lady of the Mountains Parish.

Irene served as Executive Secretary to the District Manager of the Potomac Edison Company prior to marriage in 1945. She was employed in 1964 as Secretary to the Principal of LaSalle High School, and transferred to Bishop Walsh High School when LaSalle closed in 1966. In 1968, she was promoted to Administrative Assistant, the position she held until her retirement in 1998.

Irene served as a member and president of the Professional Secretaries International, Algonquin Chapter; Sultana of the International Order of Alhambra, Wamba Caravan No. 89; secretary of the Bishop Walsh School Board; volunteer at St. Anthony Place Food Pantry, and the Bereavement Committee of SS. Peter & Paul Shrine; member, treasurer, and newsletter editor of the Western Maryland Catholic School Alumni Association; member of the Knight of Columbus #589 Auxiliary; and provided secretarial services and was chairman of the Coaches’ Brunch for forty years for the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament. Mrs. Grabenstein was instrumental in the organization and direction of the Commemorative Stained Glass Window Project, housed at Bishop Walsh School, as sponsored by the Western Maryland Catholic Schools Alumni Association.

With her many years of service in Catholic education, Irene was honored with induction in 1988 as an Affiliate of the Christian Brothers, the teaching order of Brothers at LaSalle and Bishop Walsh. She was affectionately known as “Brother Irene.” In 1993, she, along with her late husband, was presented the Archdiocesan Medal of Honor by the late Bishop P. Francis Murphy for dedication to Catholic Education in Western Maryland.”