Irene Stariha

Irene Stariha 87 Irene Anna (Bitzan) Stariha, 87, Millerville, passed away at Peaceful Bliss Assisted Living in Alexandria on November 28, 2011. She was born June 18, 1924 the daughter of Albert and Caroline (Ledermann) Bitzan. She was the third of nine children. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Millerville. She grew up on a farm on the shores of Lake Moses. She graduated from Brandon High School in 1942. On June 9, 1945 she married Leander Stariha in Millerville. It was a double wedding with her sister Margaret and Phillip Schmidt on her parents twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. She and Leander farmed on the Stariha family farm east of Millerville for forty years. There they raised five daughters. She was the financial secretary for the St. Catherine Council of the Catholic Aid Association for over 40 years. She sang in the church choir and was a member of Christian Mothers and the Millerville Homemakers. She served on the Millerville City Council from 1986-2002. She will always be remembered for her love of flowers and gardening. She was a great cook and also enjoyed sewing, fishing and playing cards. In 1985, Leander and Irene moved into the city of Millerville. Leander passed away in October 1998. Irene moved into Peaceful Bliss Assisted Living in August of 2009. Irene is survived by her five daughters and their spouses, Kathy (Michael) Scott of Camano Island, Washington, Patricia Stariha of Robinsdale, MN, Annette Stariha of Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia, Cecilia (Arlen) Holzheimer of Rockville, MN and Bernice (Paul) Dalluge of Millerville. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Rochelle Stariha, Brian Holzheimer, Steven (Laura) Holzheimer, and Christine Holzheimer, David Dalluge, Ann (Steve) Pohlmann and Gary Dalluge; two great-granddaughters, Alexi and Natalia; three sisters, Margaret Schmidt, Bernadine Schiele, Florence (George) Dorn and three brothers Edward, James (Carol) and Charles (Sue) Bitzan, sister-in-law, Frances Gabriel and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, an infant son, Gerald in 1953 and her siblings, Dorothy and Robert Bitzan. Services will be held on Friday, December 2 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Millerville. Visitation is Thursday, December 1 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a prayer service to follow at the Millerville Catholic Church and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. www.andersonfuneral.net