Obituary of Irene Jakimowicz

Irina (Irene) Aleksandrovna Jakimowicz, passed away on Sunday, June 17, 2018. She was born on April 3rd, 1921 on a passenger boat moored off the coast of Algiers in North Africa. Ultimately Irene finished her journey as an infant to America and was raised in New York City. She attended Barnard College, where she received her bachelor’s degree and continued her studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Finishing her Masters in Russian Literature, Irene taught as a lecturer of the Russian language at Columbia University in New York for 35 years. She loved the divine services of the Orthodox Church and for 45 years sang in church choirs in the New York area, along with her husband, Vassily Yevgrafovich. Irene and Vassily moved to Seattle, Washington in 1998 to be near their son Fr. Dimitri, who had recently been ordained to the deaconate. Vassily passed away in 2003 and Irene remained with her son’s family until she suffered a stroke in June 2017. She remained strong until 96 years old, when she suffered a stroke which ultimately put her in a nursing care facility. She passed away peacefully in her sleep.Irene is survived by two sons, Michael, his wife Patricia, and their daughter Alexandra, reside in the Bronx, NY; and Fr. Dimitri, his wife, Laura and their sons Yevgraf, and Vassily, who live in Wildwood, Missouri.

A pannikhida service will be held on Wednesday, June 20th at 6:30 PM at St. Alexander Nevsky  Cathedral, 200 Alexander Avenue, Howell, New Jersey.  A Memorial Liturgy will take place on Thursday, June 21th at 8 AM at the cathedral with her funeral service to follow at 10 AM. Interment will follow at St. Vladimir’s Cemetery, 213 Cassville Road, Jackson.  For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.