Irene Morris' Obituary
Irene Morris of Cape Coral, Florida passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on Sunday, January 15, 2017 following recent health challenges. She was 82 years old.Irene was born in Kiskunf??legyh?íza, Hungary, on November 10, 1934, the beautiful daughter of Veronika (Danyi) and Janos Dobak. She was the loving wife to Michael R. Morris for 57 years, and is survived by him and their cherished daughter Ildi Morris, son-in-law Ian Springsteel, two grandchildren Aniko and Ava; in addition her brother Laszlone Szoke, sister-in-law Rilla Szoke, and their children Rilla and Laci.Irene experienced life to the fullest, living and traveling all over the world. Starting in Budapest in the 1950s, Irene worked for the Hungarian military as a graphic designer and draftsman, but knew it was time to leave when the 1956 revolution against the Russians commenced. She traveled on foot to the Austrian border and managed to escape from Hungary. On the other side, she and other escapees were met by the Red Cross, who organized transportation to various cities around the world. Irene chose London, and was flown by the British Royal Air Force to England. She settled in London and worked in the design industry for a few years, before being invited by a friend to go on a double blind date. Little did Irene know that she was about to meet her future husband, Michael Morris, and they were married on June 18, 1960. The other man on the double-blind date was the best man at their wedding, and remained a lifelong family friend. Michael was starting to build his career in international construction management so they moved to Lagos, Nigeria. While in Lagos, Irene worked in property management and they traveled extensively around Africa.On April 4, 1968 they welcomed their only child, Ildiko (Ildi) into the world, and a few years later immigrated to America. Michael chose Chicago, IL to start his own company, and his first clients included the Ford Foundation, University of Chicago, and the U.S. State Department.The Morris family lived in the Chicago area for 17 years, settling in Winnetka where Irene was heavily involved in volunteering with the Newcomer’s Club, Ildi’s schools, and developed a love of sailing, entering races on Lake Michigan.Irene was known for being a talented chef and hostess, and Michael and her entertained friends and business associate regularly. She had many creative outlets and throughout her life enjoyed painting, sewing, knitting, interior decorating, and beading. Michael’s company was growing and they frequently traveled to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The trip that stood out the most was when Irene and Michael fulfilled a life-long dream to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, approx., 19,000 feet high, that they summited with Ildi in 1984.Around this time they learned about Cape Coral, with its boating-friendly community, and they bought a vacation home to visit several times a year. They also moved from Winnetka to the Washington, D.C. area so Michael could grow the business with the U.S. Government. Eventually, they retired and split their time between Washington, D.C. and their retirement home in Cape Coral, where they enjoyed boating and were part of the Cape Coral Cruise Club (CCCC). Irene and Michael were also part of the Gulf Shore Opera Club, and participated in many outings. Throughout her life, Irene was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother, and cherished her family. Immediate funeral ceremonies are private. Arrangements for Irene’s final care have been entrusted to Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555.To share a story, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time please visit Irene’s memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign her guestbook. In lieu of flowers or a memorial gift, the family asks for donations to be made to The Arthritis Foundation, as Irene suffered from this disability for many years.
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