Obituary of Irene E. Kurtz

Wayland – Irene E. Kurtz passed away Sunday evening, December 22, 2019 at her home in Wayland. Irene was born January 13, 1916, in Cohocton, the daughter of George and Josephine (Bleyer) Adams. She grew up in Cohocton where she graduated from high school in 1934. Irene was a 1938 graduate of the Geneseo Normal School, now SUNY Geneseo, with a degree in teaching. After graduation, Irene taught all grades at two different Loon Lake area one-room schools, prior to teaching English and Math at Wayland Central School (WCS). She retired from WCS in 1978. Irene and Gerald Kurtz were married October 5, 1940 and together celebrated over 65 years of marriage prior to Gerald passing away December 7, 2005. Upon their marriage, Irene moved to Wayland where she has remained a resident. Irene’s secret to longevity was hard work. She was engaged in all aspects of running a small farm, as well as running a household, raising a large family and a teaching career. She loved growing flowers, a joy and art imparted to her children. Of special note was her disdain of weeds; becoming affectionately known within her family as the “Round-Up Queen”! She and Gerald valued higher education and instilled its importance to all of her children; taking great pride in their children’s academic accomplishments and professional careers. After retirement, Irene and Gerald often accompanied their adult children to such places as the Canadian Maritimes, the Bahamas, the Canadian Rockies, the American West, Alaska, and multiple trips to Europe, or visited children and grandchildren living throughout the US. Irene was a communicant of Holy Family Catholic Community at St. Joseph’s Church, a member of the Lowell Club and the WCS Retired Teachers Association. Irene was pre-deceased by her parents; her husband Gerald Kurtz; her son, Donald Kurtz; infant sons Joseph and John Kurtz; her son-in-law Dr. Allen Jeter; her siblings, Ernestine Dennis, Josephine Wohlers, George Adams, Margaret Schrader, Helen Gross and Laura Sick. She is survived by her children, Richard Kurtz of Ithaca, Dr. Elaine Jeter of SC, Dr. Theresa (Dr. Michael Schur) Kurtz of MD, Gerald Kurtz of Atlanta, William Kurtz (Chris Keil) of Rochester, Kathleen (Karl) Bawel of Wayland and Donna Kurtz of Rochester; daughters-in-law, Barbara Politano Kurtz, Julie Kurtz and Judy Kurtz; 14 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews. Irene’s family and friends may call Thursday from 4-7pm at the St. George-Forsythe Funeral Home, 109 West Naples St., Wayland. A family prayer service will be offered at 10:15am Friday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Irene Friday at 11 AM at St. Joseph’s Church, 206 Fremont St., Wayland. Contributions in memory of Irene E. Kurtz may be made to the Vincent House, 310 Second Ave., Wayland, NY 14572, or to the Wayland Free Library, 101 West Naples St., Wayland, NY 14572. Online condolences may be made at stgeorgefuneralhome.com.