Irene (Ortega) Hershkowitz |
| Posted 2009-04-14 by Sharon |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ March 28, 2001, p. A18 Irene Ortega Hershkowitz of Wickenburg, passed on peacefully surrounded by loved ones on March 24, in Phoenix. Irene was very proud to have been the first baby born in Arizona on Jan. 1, 1932. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben L. and Eva Ocampo Ortega, pioneers of Wickenburg, and by her brother, Daniel. She was the granddaughter of Teodoro Mazon and Mariana Rodriguez Ocampo, who settled in Wickenburg in 1860. Irene was a graduate of the Wickenburg schools. While a student in high school, she was a delegate to Arizona Girls State. She graduated from Arizona State University in 1954 with a BA in Education. She taught in the Aguila-Wickenburg area from 1963-1974. In 1970, she was the recipient of the Kellogg Award, which enabled her to continue her education at the University of Arizona. She was later certified to teach English as a second language. She taught school for 38 years with positions in Gilbert, Phoenix, Aguila and Wickenburg. She retired in 1992, ending her career in the Phoenix Elementary School District, where she taught English as a second language. Irene volunteered for many years at the Friendly House, Phoenix, teaching English to Spanish-speaking students. She also volunteered for many years at the Phoenix Museum of History as a docent and a member of the Board of Directors. She recently had begun adding to her volunteer services at the Orpheum Theater. She was a member of the Phoenix Museum of History, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, The First Families of Arizona, and the Past Finders. She was a past member of the Business and Professional Women in Wickenburg. She is survived by her son, Philip Ben, daughter-in-law Martha, and grandchildren Sarah, Anna, Julie and Mitchell, all of Scottsdale. She is also survived by her sister, Maria Ortega DeHart and brother-in-law Ron DeHart, of Glendale, and by her brother, Felix Ben Ortega of Palmdale, Calif. Also surviving are her nieces and nephews: Eva L. DeHart of Glendale, Irene Rene DeHart of Kingman, Daphne and Steven Zieder of Glendale, Kimberly Sue DeHart of Phoenix, Ron DeHart, Jr. of San Diego, Calif., Della Ortega of Oceanside, Calif., Yvette and Matt Heintz of North Carolina, Felix Ortega, Jr. of Mesa, and Daniel, Ruth Ann, Jo Frances and Bernard. Also surviving are her great-nieces and nephews: Kyle and Aaron Zieder, Jacqueline and Travis Miller, Zachary Heintz, Daniel and Asia Ortega, Kristie DeHart, and Karl and Kameron Eckart. In addition, she is survived by numerous cousins from the Ortega, Quesada and Ocampo families, her nieces and nephews from the Hershkowitz family, as well as the Jahntz family and many friends. Grandma Irene will be dearly missed by many, but by none more than her grandchildren, her pride and joy. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Friday, March 30 at Frey Funeral Home in Wickenburg. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 31 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Wickenburg, with Fr. John Vogt officiating. Interment will be in the Wickenburg Municipal Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Phoenix Museum of History, 105 North 5th St., Phoenix, Ariz. 85004-4404, or the American Cancer Society, Bosom Buddies, P.O. Box 16687, Phoenix, Ariz. 85011-6687. See Also: Find a Grave |
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