Irene H. Lang, age 94 of White Lake Township, passed away September 23, 2023.

Born in Detroit, Michigan to Helen (nee. Janik) and Walter Lesiak, Irene spent much of her childhood at the Hamtramck candy store where her parents worked. They all lived above the store, with Irene and elder brother Henry helping out, making ice cream floats, and selling candy in the close-knit Polish community.

Irene attended Hamtramck High School, where she found friends with whom she kept in close relationships throughout her life. Her teenage years were filled with organizing events and gathering with her friends. She was known for making things fun, posing with friends in their bathing suits outside in the snow for group photos. It was during that same era that a nun scolded Irene for “only thinking of fun and games.” Although she never forgot the admonishment, she thankfully didn’t take it to heart.

After graduating from Hamtramck High School, Irene held several jobs that lent well to her social skills. From office work at WJLB to telephone switchboards at AT&T and Crowley’s department store – she collected many good friends along the way.

In the early 1950s, Irene met her husband Howard at a bar in Detroit (She had long withheld this backstory, as this is not something a good catholic girl would do). In those early years, they enjoyed lots of dancing and growing their circle of friends together. Howard came from a family of five children, which contrasted Irene’s small family with just one sibling. Irene, eager for more opportunities to socialize, viewed this as a selling point. Irene and Howard shared a similar sense of humor and friendly personalities, making them the perfect pair.

Irene and Howard were married in 1956, bought a bungalow in Detroit, and quickly produced three children (Irene was planning on thirteen but Howard strongly disagreed). The family later moved to Farmington Hills, Michigan where Howard was looking for a remote farmhouse on acres of land — but of course, Irene wanted to live surrounded by lots of neighbors and future friends. She won. There, in a lively suburban community, they raised their family and later enjoyed four grandchildren, creating memories and so much fun together. Irene lived in that home for 50 years.

Throughout the years, Irene and Howard enjoyed evenings playing Pinochle or Rummikubs with friends and vacationing in northern Michigan; Burt Lake, Lake Leelanau, the Upper Penninsula, and Trailsend Bay on Lake Michigan. They loved visiting friends on extended road trips around the country. After Howard’s early passing in 1994, Irene began traveling by plane (Howard feared heights), starting with a trip to Alaska with her eldest daughter, Nancy.

In 2017, Irene moved from her long-time home into an apartment and became more of a homebody, enjoying visits with friends and family, reading novels, and beating everyone at Rummikubs.

Irene is survived by her children, Nancy (Clifford) Grimm, David (Michelle Fiebke) Lang, and Julie (Robert Shimmin) Lang; her grandchildren, Adam Lang, Zachary (Jordan) Fiebke, EricaRae (Kelly) Lang and Nicholas Fiebke; her great-grandchildren, Knox, Howie, Blake, and Brooks. She was preceded in death by her husband Howard; her parents Helen and Walter Lesiak; her brother Henry (Delphine) Lesiak and her half-sister Florence (Earl) Cockrell, and the vast majority of her very dear friends whom she cherished over the years.

Memorial Visitation for Irene will be held Friday, October 6th, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. Memorial gathering will continue Saturday, October 7th, with in state beginning at 11:00 a.m. until the time of Irene's Memorial Mass at 11:30 a.m. at St Fabian Catholic Church, 32200 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Irene's name may be directed to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Contributions - VE01FS, 4100 John R., Detroit, Michigan 48201.