- Date Of Birth: July 16, 1921
- Date Of Death: February 25, 2022
- State: Illinois
Irene (Aglietto) Potthoff, 100, of Glen Carbon, formerly of Peru, was called to Heaven on Friday, February 25, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2022, at St. Mary’s Church, Peru with Rev. Gary Blake, pastor officiating. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Granville.
Irene, the youngest of three children, was born on July 16, 1921, to Peter and Domenica (Vaccarino) Aglietto of Mark. After Irene graduated from Hopkins High School in Granville in 1939, she went to work at Westclox in Peru where she met her future husband, Clement Potthoff. Clem joined the U.S. Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor; Irene waited for him to return. She married the love of her life, Clement “Clem” Potthoff on September 29, 1945, in Chicago. Irene always wore a smile and her kindness and generosity in service of the Lord radiated throughout her life. She was beloved as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend to many. There is no doubt that Irene is walking with Jesus and all those that preceded her in death. And though she will be missed by all in this world, we need only look to each other to be reminded of her love for life. In the ’60s, Clem and Irene invested in building a golf course and Irene found a life-long love in playing golf, boasting four holes-in-one. She played daily with her family and friends for many years, pulling their own carts and walking the course. She retired from the sport only when the physical demands were too great. Irene also had a love of sewing, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, and cooking. Among her best dishes were Italian family recipes including bagna cauda, ravioli, gnocchi, polenta, and dandelion salad. She also loved to make candy, including peanut brittle and if you were her friend, you would always receive a baggie of peanut brittle whenever she saw you. She loved feeding her family even after they started families of their own. She often hosted dinners for her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Nobody ever left hungry or disappointed. She was a member of St Mary’s Catholic Church in Peru throughout her life and later was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Glen Carbon.
She is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Diane (Joe) Prazen of Peru, Janice (Robert) Bellm of Eagarville, and Nancy Cass of Peru; a son and daughter-in-law, James (Holly) Potthoff of Spring Valley; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Mary Jo Potthoff of Spring Valley; many nieces and nephews; and other extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 71 years, Clem on July 22, 2016; and two sisters, Mary Presi and Theresa Dicksches.
